By Mafanta Kromah-mafanta.kromah@gmail.com
Dr. John Mulbah, a prominent Liberian Gynecologist has said that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is the partial or total removal of women and girls genitalia, has no medical benefit and it is violence against women and girls.
Speaking in Monrovia at a one-day event organized by the Liberia Feminist Forum on Wednesday of this week, Dr. Mulbah said working with community’s dwellers and policies makers will help enforce the passage of the FGM Bill.
The FGM practice has over time increased medical complications for women involved, the Liberian Medical Doctor said.
He said the FGM practice is more harmful for more than than expect.
“FGM has many health consequences including menstruation, severe pain during sexual intercourse, childbirth, kidney and psychological trauma. Sadly, most of those who are carrying out FGM are not trained health practitioners and are not familiar with women’s body,” Dr. Mulbah explained.
He indicated that law need to be establish to eliminate the act in the country.
Dr. Mulbah, who is also head of the Fistula program in Liberia, also noted:
“Medical segment could be added wherein specialized health practitioners will be allowed to carry-out the practice in a more professional, but to do this we need to be supported by communities, and the people in power, because of the political will that is needed to end FGM.”
Calling for an end to the FGM practice in Liberia, the Liberian Gynecologist said it will require a complete change at the community level, where the community will accept that it is a wrongful act and educate those involved with the necessary education about the impact of cutting the private part of woman.
Many people, he said don’t know the anatomy of the woman, which many times end up affecting the blood vessels and result into bleeding.
“I will be part of anything that involves the protection of women’s
health and I feel that passing the bill to eliminate FGM practice in
Liberia is overdue,” Dr. Mulbah added.
At the same time, a member of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia or AFELL and Liberia Feminist Forum or LFF, Cllr. Abla Williams, who stressed the importance of consent.
According to Cllr. Williams, it is preferable for women and girls to consent to the act, instead of parents compelling children into the practice.
Despite Liberia being a signatory to many international and regional conventions/laws that seek to eradicate this traditional practice, people still continue to practice FGM in this West African nation.
This week’s forum in Monrovia was also aimed at reviewing some terminologies in the proposed FGM Bill due to disconnection between Executive Order #92 issued by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the final days of her administration. This Executive Order has since expired and has so far not been renewed by her successor, President George Weah.
The event surrounding the draft Bill was held under the theme: “Legal Analysis of Proposed Domestic Violence and Anti Female Genital Mutilation Bill.”
Cllr. Williams said she supports a law to be passed to eliminate FGM in the country, because it’s not possible to discuss violence against women without referencing FGM, which she said is s complete violation of women and girls’ rights.
“We are in a fight with the political norms and political will, so we
have to do thorough research and get people who have actually have the
experience to look at the bill before presenting to the Legislature. If we say a medical practitioner must perform this act, at what age. Who need to give consent, the child or the parent? Is FGM done because
a woman or child wants it? Serious penalty or fine needed to ban
others from practicing the act.” said Cllr. Williams.
“We are also looking at offences, punishment and practitioners. A trainee cannot perform an operation. We don’t have medical practitioners in the bushes to perform these acts and even if they are present, not working as medical practitioners,” Cllr. Williams further said.
For his part, Tonieh Tarlery-Wiles, a commissioner at the Independent
National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) said several reports on FGM cases have come to the Commission and they are working with the complainant and accused to bring the issue to conclusion.
“Parents should not compel their kids to be mutilated and be
torture. We have to uphold the international protocols and do not hide
behind cultural harmful practices,” the INCHR Commissioner explained.
Ms. Facia Harris, a member of LFF said it is time President Weah re-issues Executive Order #92, among others, banning the practice of FGM for girls under age 18.
Meanwhile, the head of the National Traditional Council of Chiefs and
Elders Chief Zanzan Kawor recently threatened civil society organizations and actors, and the national government that any attempt to pass the FGM Bill into law will result into serious action during the next presidential and general elections expected in 2023.