By Ragan M. Conteh

As part of the drive to create awareness on the dangers associated with female genital mutilation also known as cutting (FGM/C) in Sierra Leone, Amazonian Initiative Movement, Sierra Leone (AIM-SL) with support and funding from “Foundation Pro Victims” has conducted a very interactive and insightful training workshop targeting key stakeholder.

The participants include police officers, paramount chiefs, section chiefs, head men, teachers, nurses, soweis and youth, educated on the Alternative Rite of Passage law in Port Loko District.

The workshop was held at Masoila Community Center in Lungi Town, Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom and Mange Bureh Community Center at Bureh Chiefdom in Port Loko District, north-west of Sierra Leone.

This training workshop has been part of the ongoing support to EndFGM movement in Sierra Leone in equipping all frontline professionals including the law enforcers on the identification, safeguarding and protection of women and girls who are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation.

It is also aimed at bringing awareness whilst providing relevant information and knowledge on the various laws, religious doctrines and medical profession when treating issues of FGM within the communities.

Madam Rugiatu Neneh Turay, the Founder AIM -SL and a leading advocate and campaigner, delivered her speech at the training workshop. In her presentation to all the attendees on difference between FGM and bondo, she spoke on how women throughout Sierra Leone have contributed to the downfall and exposure of the Bondo Society in Sierra Leone.

She told the attendees that, “the reason for the less value of bondo society today is primarily caused by the rampant initiation of women and girls in homes instead of in the bondo bushes.”

She went on to say that “female private part is not a playing ground. Don’t condone those cutters, No man is a professional to correct God’s creation.”

Madam Neneh Turay during her presentation highlighted to the attendees that FGM is a human right issue as it violates the rights of women and girls in accordance of the laws in Sierra Leone on wounding with intent, which is a crime in itself.

She explained that there is a difference in religious context around the discourse between male circumcision i.e. of male counterparts often seen as a commandment from God, and that of female circumcision that it is not mentioned in any religious books or texts, as many claim.

In emphasizing on the risks and serious complications often associated with the impact of FGM on the bodies of women and girls Madam Rugiatu told the attendees that “our women and girls are dying in the bondo bushes, and many deaths are not reported and for those that do report a few are in court awaiting final judgment.

Madam Turay emphasized that FGM practice is known to reinforce and perpetuate the cycle of poverty from generations to generations that goes on to devastate families and lives.

She spoke about how the socio-economic status of families in communities is and sometimes be the deciding factor on why they chose to subject their women and girls to the practice.

She said it often causes rifts among family members.

She added that the alternative rite of passage (ARP) is one that her organization (AIM-SL) has piloted in two districts Port Loko and Tonkolili district.

She said,“the bloodless bondo initiated by her organization is aimed at removing the aspect of cutting of the clitoris in its entirety.”

She then went on to remind the attendees by saying “As a society “we must save women and girls from unnecessary medical complications often associated with FGM and we need to also restore the confidence in our women to make the right decision that is good for their health and wellbeing if they are to live and thrive in society.”

Madam Turay also highlighted the links between FGM and the health of women and girls especially maternal mortality and child mortality rates, fistula and infertility.

She stressed on the important role of the police, teachers, chiefs and nurses to work towards addressing FGM which she said is “a major barrier to women progress in the country.”

She went on to say and pleaded with the attendees that “if we failed to act now, more women and girls will be victim of either death or other FGM complications.”

In her statement, an attendee and a Sowei in Lungi Madam Baromi N’Sizors, explained her current position during the workshop and further told other participants that she is a sowei and that she has seven girls and sadly the oldest of them has been cut whilst the rest have remained uncut.

Madam Baromi N’Sizors, also told the group that she has abstained from doing women and girls’ genital removal, adding that the workshop is very informative and has educated and encouraged her and her colleague (sowies) to see the need to stop FGM and accept the Alternative rite of passage (ARP).

She went on to say “we need to regain the lost glory our Bondo society as it’s the only secret society for women.”

Other attendee Pa Alimamy, a section chief in Kaffu Bullom chiefdom boldly said “I am fortunate and proud that my wife did not undergo FGM, since we got married to date, she is still active on bed, and we enjoyed it. We have six children (girls) with only one who has undergone FGM, which I was aware of and for which I am very angry about.

The rest of my daughters are none initiates (uncut) and as I speak they always thank me for protecting them from undergoing such act”.

Another of the attendees a  sowei, Madam Sampa Nyandawa from Bureh Chiefdom expressed her profound gratitude to AIM-SL for their relentless efforts to educate them on FGM, adding that Bondo is part of their source of livelihood and asked the organization to help them now that they have decided to abandon the practice.

“I feel very sad after watching the video. During initiation ( genital removal) we don’t even know the implications of what we are doing. I ask God to forgive us,” she cried.

A police officer, Madam Aminata Koroma at Mange Bureh said, they are constrained sometimes to take soweis to the police when FGM case reported.

She said “now that they have equipped with education on the law especially on the wounding with intent and other international laws they are going to act on any FGM related cases.”

She urged the organization to replicate such messages in schools to catch them young. Very important that such message reaches those most at risk.

After a display of FGM documentary videos, many couldn’t watch it to the end, and those who endure to watch it, many confess that they never knew their children and wives are undergoing such pain and degrading act and even the sowies present said they didn’t notice children are feeling such pain unless after watching the documentary.

However, they all pledged their support to ENDFGM and asked AIM-SL to cascade such training to the communities and make sure the documentary is play so everyone will know/see the pain women go through.

Many participants say showing the documentary is way to help prevent young girls not to subject themselves to such a wicked act.

The Mammy Queen of Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom Madam Ya Alimamy Kamara suggested to the group for FGM to be a whole subject be taught in schools, as it’s a way for young girls to know and understand and be able to dispute the misinformation often given by the soweis and promise by their parents.

She also said that “it will be important to educate and equip teachers working with girls.”