He For She Crusaders Liberia Urges Gov’t to Uphold International Commitments
By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia – The He For She Crusaders Liberia is calling on the Liberian government to honor its international and regional commitments by promoting access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and criminalizing the harmful practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
In an exclusive interview, the group National Coordinator Tamba F. Johnson expressed concern over the increasing reports of FGM practices and the resistance from religious leaders towards the amendment of health policies that aim to ensure safe abortion.
“Liberia, as a signatory to the Maputo Protocol on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa and the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, has a responsibility to enact laws and policies that address violence against women and promote SRHR,” he said.
The He For She Crusaders Liberia Boss emphasizes the importance of the government’s compliance with international and regional protocols to protect its citizens from harmful practices like FGM and ensure access to comprehensive SRHR services.
Speaking recently during the interview held at his office in Congo Town, Johnson highlighted the lack of a law criminalizing the practice of FGM in Liberia.
“Although the government has banned FGM practice in certain counties, including Lofa, Nimba, Bong, Grand Cape Mount, and Montserrado, the practice is still prevalent in other regions,” Mr. Johnson explained.
He urged the government to recognize the urgent need to criminalize FGM and address the defiance of traditional practitioners.
Furthermore, Johnson criticized the misuse of resources for the construction of heritage centers that are not effectively utilized.
The He for She Crusaders emphasized the importance of engaging and educating traditional leaders, providing alternative livelihood opportunities, and creating markets for their products to change their mindset towards FGM.
He also Johnson also shed light on the issue of safe abortion, stating that while it is permitted in Liberia, stringent policies hinder access.
According to the Liberian Code of Laws Revised Section 16.3, abortion beyond the 24th week of pregnancy is illegal, with exceptions only if the mother’s physical and/or mental health is at risk or if the child would be born with severe defects or the pregnancy resulted from illegal intercourse.
Mr. Johnson argued that these stringent policies contribute to the high number of unsafe abortions, leading to the deaths of over 200,000 teenagers in Liberia.
Highlighting the contradiction between Liberia’s obligation to promote human rights and its current policies, Johnson called for the criminalization of FGM and better access to safe abortion services.
The He For She Crusaders Liberia is urging the members of the 55 Legislature to join the fight to protect the lives of teenage girls and ensure their rights to comprehensive SRHR