By:Mohamed M. Sesay
With support from Forum Against Harmful Practices, Action For Community Task Sierra Leone ( ACT-SL) has engaged four major Political Parties in Pujehun which were the Sierra Leone People’s Party, All People’ Congress Party, National Grand Coalition, and the People’s Movement for Democratic Change in order to mount a campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other harmful Practices in the district.
In her address, the Director of Action for Community Task Sierra Leone Madam Sadiatu Kemokai Leigh, intimated that the fundamental purpose of engaging Political parties was to have a compendium campaign during their election campaign so that they could call on their membership to join forces together to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation and other harmful Practices in the district. She added that the four political Parties especially the Sierra Leone People’s Party, made undying commitment to call on their membership not to peg their re-election message on initiating adolescent girls into those harmful societies. She disclosed that the mission of their activities is to ensure that Sierra Leone becomes free from Harmful traditional practices which include FGM.
She intimated that their mission is to speak with a unified voice against harmful traditional practices which have been an impediment to girls and women to enjoy their Human Rights to the fullest potential. Madam Leigh also assured that the engagement with political Parties is to put together concerted efforts to eradicate FGM and other harmful traditional practices in Pujehun District.
Madam Sadiatu Kemokai Leigh continued that the collective effort of the project started last year with Traditional Leaders and School Authorities of which an indelible commitments were made towards the eradication of Harmful Traditional Practices including FGM. She added that even teachers and pupils have been incorporated under the project. She said there are also schools clubs formed to campaign against harmful practices in the District.
“political Parties have made commitment towards eradicating Harmful Traditional Practices and FGM. In fact PMDC said that will be one of the messages during their campaign that FGM is not good for girls and women”, she said.
Madam Leigh furthered that political Parties equally made commitments that they would encourage their Members of the Sixth Parliament to enact registration which geared towards putting everlasting stop to Harmful Traditional Practices and FGM. She concluded by encouraging the political parties not to use FGM as a means of campaign to gain votes.
Alpha Kamara, the Public Relations Officer for SLPP appreciated the engagement and considered it very educative, informative and timely as the country prepares to go into election campaigns. He called for unity and mobilization in an effort to eradicate Harmful Traditional Practices and FGM. He dubbed the FGM practice as indeed barbaric and therefore, pledged his Party’s support towards eradicate it.
The All People’s Congress Party Representative who also doubles as aspirant for councilor in constituency 100 Salmatu Mansaray, said they is not going to entirely discard the society because it is their culture but suggested to make it a law that anybody who initiates under aged girls into the society, should be punished severely by the law. She also committed their supports towards guiding the process through in ensuring that under aged persons are not initiated into such harmful practices.
Representative from the People’s Movement for Democratic Change Abu S.K Rogers, assured that the PMDC would also ensure to sensitize the members regarding the dangers of FGM and other Harmful Traditional Practices. He said moving forward, they are going to incorporate anti FGM messages into their campaign in order to discourage people to stop such practices. He said the Bondo Society itself is not bad but certain practices within the process is what they are against. He concluded by making their commitment that the PMDC is ever ready to support the process in terms of eradicating Harmful Traditional Practices including FGM.
