Liberia on Friday, February 6, 2026, renewed calls for the swift passage of the Women and Girls Protection Bill as government officials, United Nations representatives, traditional leaders, and civil society groups marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The national observance, held under the global theme “Investing in Girls, Communities, and a Future Free from Female Genital Mutilation,” focused on strengthening legal protections for girls amid concerns that the absence of a comprehensive national law continues to leave many vulnerable.
UN Women Deputy Representative Yenei Fakayajo said progress made through advocacy and traditional leadership declarations remains fragile without enforceable legislation.
“While we acknowledge important steps, including the 2023 proclamation by the National Council of Chiefs and Elders banning FGM, the absence of a national law continues to expose girls to harm,” Fakayajo said.
She noted that more than 230 million girls and women globally have undergone FGM, with an estimated four million girls at risk each year, warning that gains could be reversed without sustained investment and monitoring.
“Declarations alone are not enough,” she added. “There is no end to FGM without long-term commitment and resources.”
Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Laura Golakeh described FGM as a human rights and development issue rather than a political one, urging lawmakers to act on the pending legislation.
“Female Genital Mutilation is not politics. It is about people’s lives,” Golakeh said. “It is about the health, dignity, and future of Liberian girls.”
Golakeh reiterated the government’s pledge to reduce violence against women and girls by 50 percent by 2029, calling for bipartisan support to advance the bill currently before the House of Representatives.
A statement delivered on behalf of the UN Secretary-General read by Dr. Mady Biaye,
Resident Representative
UNFPA Liberia highlighted Liberia’s recent efforts to strengthen its response to gender-based violence, including the operationalization of the 116 national helpline, improved coordination mechanisms, and the development of a National Action Plan on GBV.
“To end FGM and gender-based violence, it will take lawmakers passing protective laws, traditional leaders working with communities, and families choosing protection for their daughters,” the statement said.
Esther Davis Yango, Executive Director of civil society organization WONGOSOL, said the Women and Girls Protection Bill represents a critical opportunity to move toward a survivor-centered and rights-based framework.
“Without an enforceable legal framework, women and girls remain at risk,” Yango said. “Ending FGM is not only a cultural issue; it is a matter of human rights, public health, and national development.”
Speakers at the event called for urgent legislative action, sustained financing, and collective efforts among government institutions, traditional leaders, civil society, and communities to end the practice.
