PHOTO: Participants at the just-ended forum
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
Participants at the end of a round-table forum have issued a resolution calling on the Liberian government to abolish all forms of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), ban same sex marriage and illegal abortion throughout the country.
The day-long forum held in Monrovia, attended by men and women, was aimed at curbing female genital mutilation and illegal abortion have adopted
The participants also recommended that government ensures the legalization of abortion and the establishment abortion sessions at all government-owned clinics and hospitals in Liberia.
The forum brought together Imams Pastors, heads of schools, community leaders, and representatives of women and youth organizations from various communities in Electoral District #7 in Montserrado County.
Nelly Cooper, Executive Director West Women for Health
The participants adopted the resolution at the end of a one-day round-table discussion organized by the West Point Women for Health and Development Organization, with funding from the Swedish Association for Sexual Education in the Township of West Point.
They also encouraged Liberian lawmakers to enact law banning same sex marriage, so as to preserve the dignity of the Liberian society as a religious nation.
The participants stressed the need for prosecute of individuals forcefully initiating people into the poro and sande societies against their will in order to curb the rampant forceful initiations reported on a daily basis.
They also proposed that the lawmakers introduce laws banning female genitals mutilations because of the harms it inflicts on the girl child.
The participants recommended that the lawmakers should also introduce a legislation banning all forms of illegal or criminal abortion in Liberia.
In remarks, the Executive Director of the West Point Women for Health and Development Organization said the gathering is intended to create awareness on the danger of female genital mutilation and criminal abortion in the Township of West Point.
According to Nelly Cooper, the discussion was necessary because there has been an increase in reports of criminal abortion and people taking their daughters away to rural Liberia purposely to circumcise the female children.
She thanked the Swedish Association for Sexual Education for sponsoring the round table discussion aimed at curbing female genitals mutilations and illegal abortion in Liberia.