By Ragan M. Conteh

As the movement to end female genital mutilation (FGM) continues to grow in Sierra Leone, a new wave of local bloggers is stepping forward to play a crucial role in the fight. Recently trained on the dangers of FGM, these bloggers are now poised to use their platforms to challenge harmful traditions, reshape community attitudes, and amplify the voices of survivors.

The training, held in Port Loko on Tuesday 10th June 2025, was led by Madam Rugiatu Neneh Turay, Director of the Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM) Sierra Leone. Addressing participants, Madam Turay underscored the critical importance of digital media in influencing public discourse, not only in Sierra Leone but globally.

In her presentation, she explained that FGM—commonly practiced in the context of the Bondo society—is recognized by the United Nations as a severe violation of the rights of women and girls. She noted that the practice, which involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, has devastating and long-lasting consequences.

“FGM is not just a health issue—it’s a human rights crisis,” Madam Turay stated. “It is rooted in power, control, and silence. That silence must be broken, and bloggers have the power to do just that.”

Bloggers, by the nature of their work, are storytellers. They run personal or group platforms where they share news, opinions, and content that reaches broad and diverse audiences. In the fight against FGM, their role extends beyond sharing information. They can humanize the issue—bringing forward the live experiences of women and girls who have survived the practice.

Through storytelling, bloggers can help the public understand that FGM is not a distant cultural tradition, but a painful and traumatic violation that affects real people—sisters, daughters, mothers, friends. By sharing survivor stories, explaining the physical and psychological consequences, and challenging myths that perpetuate the practice, bloggers can change minds and push for meaningful reform.

“We want our people to drop their knives,” Turay said passionately. “We want parents and girls to feel protected. And we want you—bloggers—to talk openly about the dangers, to be bold enough to say ‘no’, and to show that women are ready for change.”

She emphasized that bloggers must not only raise awareness but also anchor their advocacy in human rights, gender equality, and reproductive health. “Changing laws is not enough. We must change hearts and minds—and that’s where you come in,” she told the bloggers.

The training session also explored how social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram can be powerful tools for grassroots education and mobilization. Bloggers were encouraged to use their creativity—through videos, interviews, articles, and infographics—to challenge the cultural acceptance of FGM and spark intergenerational conversations.

Participants left the training energized and committed. Several bloggers made public pledges to join the movement and use their platforms to campaign against FGM in their communities.

Their vow marks a powerful step forward in a country where FGM is still widely practiced and often defended under the guise of tradition. But tradition, as many activists like Turay argue, should never come at the cost of a girl’s safety, dignity, or future.

As the movement gains momentum, the role of bloggers will be vital—not just in spreading awareness, but in giving voice to those who have too long been silenced.