Please join us in calling for the Government of Sierra Leone to fulfil its obligation by protecting women and girls from FGM. 

In Sierra Leone, at least three girls died after undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) in January 2024.

Local news reported that Kadiatu Bangura, 17, died after being “forcefully initiated” by the women-only Bondo secret society as part of a rite of passage into adulthood. Police said Salamatu Jalloh, 13, died from bleeding.

Another victim, Adamsay Sesay was just 12 years old.

In 2021, Maseray Sei, a 21-year-old mother, died from acute haemorrhage and shock after being subjected to FGM. Nobody has been brought to justice in Maseray’s case, and Sierra Leone has yet to see a single conviction for any FGM-related incidents. 

Alarmingly, these are not isolated instances. Numerous women and girls in Sierra Leone are known to have lost their lives due to FGM, but the true number is likely to be higher as deaths go unreported because of the secretive nature of the practice and fears of repercussions against those who speak out.

Shockingly, Sierra Leone has no law that specifically criminalizes FGM and punishes the practice.

The Government of Sierra Leone has yet to introduce a law explicitly prohibiting FGM, and existing laws are not being effectively enforced to provide protection and prosecute perpetrators.

Local women’s rights activists are making laudable progress in raising public awareness about the perils of FGM and galvanizing community support to end it.

This has led to more FGM-related deaths being reported to the authorities, but a damaging lack of political support and insufficient funding is hampering activists’ work.

We commend the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs for issuing a statement that condemns the recent deaths, pledges to ensure “justice is appropriately served,” and reiterates the government’s commitment to strengthen legal provisions against FGM.

Please join Forum Against Harmful Practices (FAHP), Not In My Name (NIMN), and Equality Now in calling on the Government of Sierra Leone, President Julius Maada Bio, and Minister for Gender and Children’s Affairs Dr. Isata Mahoi to:

• Quickly introduce and implement a comprehensive law that explicitly prohibits FGM for all ages and contains strong measures to improve protections against FGM and punish perpetrators;
• Ensure swift, impartial, thorough police investigations into all FGM-related deaths;
•  Prosecute and hold accountable all those responsible for the deaths of Adamsay, Kadiatu, Maseray, and Salamatu;     
• Work in partnership with local organizations to implement well-funded and long-term programs that educate communities to abandon FGM and empower women and girls.

FGM is a serious human rights violation involving the partial or total removal or damage to healthy female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

It causes immediate and long-term health problems, including haemorrhage, chronic infections, emotional trauma, sexual dysfunction, infertility, childbirth complications, and increased rates of maternal and infant mortality.

FGM is also a significant economic burden. It forces girls to miss school and can impair their educational attainment, while additional healthcare costs put significant strain on health systems and national budgets. 

Sierra Leone has one the highest rates of FGM globally, with around 83% of women and girls aged between 15 and 49 years subjected. Girls and women are losing their lives, and survivors are suffering the physical and psychological impacts. 

FGM is prohibited under international law and regional treaties, many of which have been signed and ratified by Sierra Leone.

By not enacting legislation explicitly criminalizing FGM, Sierra Leone’s government is failing to fulfil its international human rights obligations and is leaving thousands of women and girls in life-threatening danger.

A law banning FGM would clarify the government's commitment and responsibilities in safeguarding women and girls at risk.

A law would also strengthen access to justice for victims and their loved ones by enabling prosecutions in FGM cases, which is also a crucial deterrent to would-be perpetrators.

Please join us in calling for the Government of Sierra Leone to fulfil its obligation by protecting women and girls from FGM.