Citizens Renew Calls for Total Ban on FGM Across Sierra Leone
By John Kelly Marah
Calls for the total ban of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) have intensified in Sierra Leone following fresh allegations of forced initiation into the Bondo society involving Binta Kamara, a case that has reignited national and regional debate on the practice.
The First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio, has urged calm while investigations continue, stressing that due process must be followed. However, the incident has once again placed FGM at the centre of public concern, with rights advocates insisting that stronger legal action is urgently needed to protect women and girls from coercion and abuse.
The issue is further reinforced by a landmark ruling of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, which found Sierra Leone in violation of its human rights obligations in a case brought by survivor, Kadijatu Balaima Allieu. The Court held that the state failed to adequately protect women and girls from harmful practices and ordered reforms, including compensation for victims and stronger legal safeguards.
Activists also point to the country’s obligations under the Maputo Protocol, which requires African states to eliminate harmful traditional practices. In particular, it calls for the prohibition of practices that violate the dignity, health, and rights of women and girls.
FGM, a practice widely condemned as a violation of human rights, remains deeply controversial in Sierra Leone, where cultural traditions continue to intersect with legal and policy challenges. Rights groups argue that recent developments, including the Binta Kamara allegations and the ECOWAS Court ruling, present a critical moment for decisive legislative action.
As investigations proceed, pressure continues to mount on authorities to move beyond condemnation and implement a clear, enforceable nationwide ban on FGM.
