Nowhere to run from female genital mutilation
Despite the clarion call by the United Nations and other human rights organizations to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM) across the globe, it is far from being a reality in Sierra Leone as this practice seems to be embedded in our culture.
Instead of putting a halt to the practice in our society, it is rather on the increase. Although the government is not serious about fighting to end the practice, some human rights organizations have vowed to end the inhumane practice. One such organization is the Foundation for Democratic Initiative and Development (FDID) who’s Director, Hindowa Saidu was chased by some members of the Bondo society on the 28th May 2010 in Bo, southern Sierra Leone.
When contacted on this issue, Hindowa Saidu said as human right defender they should fight by all means necessary to put a stop to the crude and dangerous practice, He further stated that a series of incidents in the past two years tends to make mockery of the Gender Base Violence Act enacted by parliament in 2008 which states in part that “It is illegal to subject anybody under the age of 18 years to harmful treatment including cultural practices that dehumanize or injurious to the physical and mental welfare of the child.”
But on the other hand, the director lamented that even adult women are forcefully conscripted into the Bondo society against their wish. Giving an instance, Mr. Saidu said in February 2009, four female journalists working for United Nations radio in Kenema were paraded naked for speaking against the FGM on radio. He said FDID has recorded many cases on adult women who have either been conscripted into the Bondo society or have run away from their homes.
A housewife, Mrs. Sally Kamara from Makeni in the Northern Province, is reported to have abandoned her marital home due to pressure from some in-laws who insist that she should be imitated into the Bondo society.
Another incident involving Theresa Juju Shebureh has also been reported missing from her marital home at Loppa Dama in the Kenema District, eastern part of the country for fear that she will be forced to undergo the FMG as her mates are members and have vowed to make sure she is imitated. Â
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