Activists, traditional leaders, government officials, health workers, survivors, and school pupils gathered in Waterloo this week for a town hall meeting aimed at strengthening grassroots efforts to end female genital mutilation or cutting, commonly known as FGM/C, in Sierra Leone.
The event, organized on February 10, 2026, by the Women’s Advocacy and Agricultural Development Organization, WAADO, to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM/C, brought together a broad cross section of stakeholders at Prince Turner Hall in Waterloo under the theme, “Investment: Investing in Girls, Communities, and a Future Free from FGM/C.”
FGM/C remains widely practiced in Sierra Leone and is often framed as a rite of passage into womanhood. While awareness campaigns have increased in recent years, the practice continues to raise serious health and human rights concerns. Although Sierra Leone is a signatory to several international and regional conventions calling for its elimination, national legal protections remain limited and enforcement remains inconsistent.
Speaking at the town hall meeting, Doris Fatima Webber, Executive Director of WAADO, emphasized that eliminating FGM/C requires sustained, community led investment.
“We cannot end FGM/C through silence or symbolism,” Webber said. “We must invest in girls’ education, empower communities economically, and create alternative opportunities for practitioners. Protecting girls is not a betrayal of culture. It is a commitment to their future.”
She stressed that sustainable change must come from within communities, supported by open dialogue and practical alternatives.
Echoing that call, Yeama Babah Conteh, Director of Woman for Woman Organisation, highlighted the importance of centering survivors’ voices in the national conversation.
“Ending FGM/C requires us to listen to women and girls who live with its consequences,” Conteh said. “Community dialogue creates space for honest reflection. We must preserve our cultural identity without harming the bodies and futures of girls.”
Representing the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in the Western Area Rural District, Nasiru J. Vandi underscored the role of schools in prevention efforts.
“Education is one of the most effective tools in preventing FGM/C,” Vandi said. “When girls stay in school, they are less vulnerable to early initiation and early marriage. Parents and community leaders must see education as an investment in national development.”
Similarly, Foday M.L. Sery, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Gender and Social Affairs, framed the issue as both a rights and protection concern.
“FGM/C is a public health issue and a human rights concern,” Sery noted. “The Ministry remains committed to strengthening child protection systems and working with communities to safeguard vulnerable girls.”
Health professionals at the meeting also emphasized the medical risks associated with the practice. Penninah F. Lassio, Community Health Officer in Grafton, said frontline health workers frequently witness the consequences.
“FGM/C carries significant short and long term risks, including severe bleeding, infections, childbirth complications, and psychological trauma,” Lassio explained. “Prevention is far better than treatment. Investing in awareness and early education can save lives.”
Community voices reinforced the call for collective action. Kadiatu Bangura, a participant at the meeting, emphasized the need for sustained collaboration beyond symbolic observances.
“The fight against FGM/C cannot be left to activists alone,” Bangura said. “It requires traditional leaders, government institutions, religious authorities, and young people to work together. Policies must be matched with grassroots engagement.”
Observed globally each year on February 6, the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM/C serves as a reminder that eliminating the practice requires more than international commitments. It demands shifts in deeply rooted social norms.
For many in attendance, the gathering signaled a growing willingness to confront one of the country’s most sensitive social issues through dialogue and sustained local action.
The meeting concluded with a declaration of commitment from activists, traditional leaders, government officials, health workers, survivors, and school pupils to strengthen advocacy, expand community education, and work collaboratively toward reducing and ultimately ending FGM/C in the Western Area Rural District and across Sierra Leone. The campaign was sponsored by Purposeful, which supported the initiative as part of its commitment to advancing girls’ rights and community-led advocacy efforts.
