By Staff Writer
Bong County Lawmaker Moima Briggs Mensah Shares Painful Reality of Female Genitals Mutilation….Rally Liberians to End FGM Practice
Bong County Representative Hon. Moima Briggs Mensah on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at program marking the observance of International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation shares a painful tale and reality about female genital mutilation that she survived from thus rallying Liberians to put an end to the harmful practice.
“Today, I stand before you not just as a Keynote Speaker, but as someone who has lived the painful reality of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). I am a survivor. Like many of you and other women in Liberia and across Africa, that day was a day that scarred me-physically and emotionally, am here not to relive that pain, but to give voice to the countless girls who still endure this torment,” stated Representative Mensah.
The keynote speaker Hon. Mensah, giving her personal story said when she was just a child at 10 years old, she was told that the practice was a “Rite of Passage,” a cultural inheritance; her grandma was a Zoe and this was something that every girl had to go through to become a woman.
Representative Mensah explained that there were two sides (1 positive and the other regrettable).The training on how to become a good wife was good though but the other was so painful. She noted that she didn’t know then that the pain would steal my innocence, my health, and my happiness. that pain never really goes away.
“I am ending the silence every day, I live with the consequences. I was robbed of the chance to experience my body as it was meant to be,” she decried.
Explaining her ordeal further, the lawmaker said she suffer from complications that affect her health, relationships, and her ability to be the woman she wants to be.
She stated that the pain doesn’t just affect the body-it affects the soul. It takes away your confidence, your sense of worth, and leaves you questioning your place in the world.
The lawmaker asserted that she was not alone as there are many girls in the country who are still undergoing this tice.
The lawmaker called for stronger laws that protect girls from FGM, laws that are enforced with compassion and conviction. We need to ensure that those who perpetuate this violence are held accountable and with this, I am currently championing a law in that interest, so let’s all work together to convince the legislators, partners to support the enlightening process as we embark on this journey.
According to Hon. Mensah survivors like her need support; psychological counseling, medical care, and a place to heal. We need to provide a safe space where we can speak out without shame.
Madam Christine Umotumi, UN Resident Representative in a statement from UN on International Day for Zero Tolerance for FGM described female genital mutilation as a horrific act of gender-based violence, stating that more than 230 million girls and women alive today are survivors of this abhorrent practice.
Madam Umotumi said as one of the most brutal manifestations of gender inequality, female genital mutilation inflicts profound, lifelong physical and mental harm, carries life-threatening health risks, and violates the rights of women and girls to bodily autonomy, safety, and dignity.
She expressed that eradicating this vicious human rights violation is urgent, and it is possible. Madam Umotumi averred that this year’s theme reminder of progress, but rally all campaigners against FGM to pick up the pace. We must strengthen global movements to break down harmful attitudes, beliefs and gender stereotypes. And we need to bolster strong partnerships between Governments, grassroots organizations and survivors to supercharge efforts and eliminate this scourge by 2030.
According to her, the Pact for the Future, agreed at the United Nations last September, includes a commitment by Member States to eliminate female genital mutilation by tackling negative social norms and gender discrimination.
The UN Resident Representative called on all to join forces to make female genital mutilation history and ensure a brighter, healthier, and more just future for all women and girls everywhere.
Madam Massa Kandakai speaking on behalf of the zoes stressed the need for economic support for transformative living.
Madam Kandakai called of government to talk her international counterparts to empower and support the traditional women who have already left in the harmful traditional practice of FGM.
She proposed the building of schools in other for their children to have access to education. She also wants the traditional women benefit from training skills like tailoring, tie dye and village saving loan scheme for economic empowerment.
