The Sierra Leone Police is currently investigating the deaths of three young girls, Adamsay Sesay (12), Salamatu Jalloh (13), and Kadiatu Bangura (17), who lost their lives during initiation ceremonies involving female genital mutilation (FGM) in the country’s North West province last month.
Reports indicate that Aminata Koroma, the executive secretary of the Forum Against Harmful Practices (FAHP), an organization dedicated to ending FGM in Sierra Leone, confirmed the involvement of the girl’s parents and the practitioners responsible for the procedures, who are currently in police custody.
Despite global efforts to eradicate FGM, the brutal practice is still legal in Sierra Leone. Activists, including FAHP, are advocating for legislation criminalizing FGM and promoting alternative initiation ceremonies that omit this harmful tradition. FAHP conducted successful FGM-free initiation ceremonies in three districts last year, with plans to extend the initiative to two more districts this year.
Koroma emphasized the positive aspects of Bondo societies, where the FGM procedure is traditionally performed, such as teaching girls about the medicinal properties of plants and preserving cultural history. FAHP’s campaign slogan urges a shift towards saying “yes to Bondo, no to cutting.”
Research has shown that the most effective FGM-free ceremonies are those facilitated by the soweis, senior members of the all-women Bondo secret societies. However, challenges persist, as FGM remains a significant source of income for these practitioners, with families spending hundreds of dollars on the three-week-long ceremony.
While optimism exists for a gradual change in people’s attitudes towards FGM, there is recognition that eradicating the practice may take time. The tragic deaths of young girls highlight the urgency for the Sierra Leone Police intervention to stem the tide in the shortest time possible.
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