The Liberia Feminists Coalition, a network of five prominent women’s rights groups, has raised serious concerns following reports that 502 girls recently graduated from a Sande bush school in Konia, Lofa County, on August 8.
The event has sparked fears that the illegal practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) may have taken place, undermining Liberia’s national ban on the harmful procedure.
The Coalition—comprising medica Liberia, Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia, Liberia Feminists Forum, Sisters 4 Sisters Liberia, and Radical Young Women Initiative—acknowledges the importance of cultural traditions but firmly condemns any practice that violates human rights or endangers girls’ health. FGM is internationally recognized as a form of gender-based violence with no health benefits, violating Liberia’s commitments under major treaties such as the Maputo Protocol, CEDAW, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Despite these international and national safeguards, including a permanent ban reaffirmed by the National Council of Chiefs and Elders in February 2023, this graduation ceremony highlights ongoing challenges in enforcement and accountability.
In response, the Liberia Feminists Coalition is urging:
Government authorities to launch a thorough investigation, enforce the ban on FGM, and fast-track the creation of a comprehensive law criminalizing the practice.
Traditional leaders to honor their pledges to end FGM and promote culturally respectful alternatives to harmful rites.
Communities and parents to adopt traditions that celebrate heritage without risking the wellbeing of girls.
The Coalition also welcomes the recent suspension of two local government officials in Lofa County by the Minister of Internal Affairs, actions linked to breaches of the moratorium on Sande activities following the mass graduation event.
“Liberian culture should empower, not endanger, our daughters,” the Coalition stated. It reaffirmed its dedication to ending FGM and called on the government to fully implement international human rights protections for women and girls nationwide.
About the Liberia Feminists Coalition
Formed in 2024, the Liberia Feminists Coalition is a leading advocacy platform that unites women’s rights organizations across the country.
Through policy advocacy, capacity building, and grassroots work, it strives to promote gender equality, protect women and girls from violence, and advance social justice throughout Liberia.
