January 27, 2022
By: Mohamed Jalloh
In late December 2021, 21 years Old Maseray Sei died in the initiation bush after undergoing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nyandahun village, Imperi chiefdom in Bonthe district.
A post mortem result was conducted on the remains of the young lady and the results confirmed the cause of death as hemorrhaging (profuse bleeding) as a result of clitorectomy which is the harmful removal of the clitoris during FGM practice.
Maseray sei is survived by four years old boy and a six month old baby.
Civil society organizations are of the view that her death was entirely preventable.
The Forum Against Harmful Practices (FAHP) holds the view that FGM at any age is a fundamental abuse of the rights of women and girls.
The practice is deemed dangerous to the health of women and girls and offers no medical benefit.
As in this tragic case, age is no protection against the harmful consequences of FGM-physical, sexual and emotional.
FAHP and its partners have called for the total abandonment of this harmful practice for all women and girls of all ages through a ban on FGM.
“Uphold the Bondo heritage but drop the FGM” is the mantra advocated by many civil society organizations.
It should be noted that FAHP has been supporting the family of the deceased and applauds the Sierra Leone police for the arrests made and the ordering of a post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death.
FAHP and other right organizations are seeking for justice for the death of Maseray and call on government through the judiciary to hold those responsible to account.
FAHP is also calling on the Ministry of Gender and Children`s affairs to provide the necessary and welfare assistance for Maseray`s two surviving children.