Monrovia, Liberia – The United Nations has intensified its push for Liberia to step up efforts in eradicating female genital mutilation (FGM), warning that the deeply entrenched practice continues to endanger the lives of countless women and girls across the country.
Marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, UN Women Country Representative Comfort Lamptey denounced FGM as a grave violation of human rights and a severe form of gender-based violence. She described the practice as a brutal legacy of inequality that inflicts devastating physical and psychological harm, stripping victims of their dignity and endangering their well-being. With an estimated 230 million women and girls worldwide affected, Lamptey underscored the urgency of eliminating FGM through stronger global advocacy, policy reforms, and grassroots mobilization.
Calling for immediate and decisive action, the UN official stressed that ending FGM is not just a moral imperative but an attainable goal. She urged governments, civil society groups, and survivors to form stronger coalitions to dismantle cultural justifications for the practice and challenge discriminatory gender norms that fuel its persistence. She further emphasized that the global fight against FGM must accelerate to meet the 2030 deadline set under the Sustainable Development Goals.
The UN reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the global campaign against FGM, citing the Pact for the Future, which member states endorsed last September. This initiative aims to confront harmful social norms and eliminate practices that perpetuate gender inequality. The organization also commended Liberia for its collaborative efforts with international partners, including the European Union and Sweden, to protect women and girls from this form of violence.
Despite previous interventions, concerns persist over the resurgence of FGM in parts of Liberia, even after the National Council of Chiefs and Elders imposed a ban following extensive consultations with traditional leaders. The UN reminded the government of its 2015 pledge to eradicate the practice under the Sustainable Development Agenda and urged lawmakers to fast-track the passage of the long-stalled Anti-FGM Bill.
Recognizing efforts to introduce alternative economic programs for former FGM practitioners, the UN stressed that economic incentives alone are insufficient. It called for legislative action to impose a full and irreversible ban on the practice, ensuring that future generations of Liberian women and girls are protected from this form of violence.
