PHOTO: PUL Pres. Chalres Coffey
The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has expressed support for the campaign by the Girls Alliance for Future Leadership to abolish Female Genitals Mutilation (FGM) for girls at age of 18 years and below in the Liberia.
PUL’s President Charles Coffey has said he is convinced that female genitals mutilation is creating a hazard for young girls and impeding their growth and development.
Mr. Coffey expressed the union’s support when he delivered the keynote speech marking the observance of the Day of the African Child organized by the Girls Alliance for Future Leadership in Monrovia during the weekend.
The PUL President commended the Girls Alliance for Future Leadership for the construction manner they have embarked on their campaigning against female genital mutilation and their engagement with the media.
He said: “let me use this time to join you in your advocacy against female genital mutilation in Liberia and I called on President George Weah to stop all female genital mutilation for all minors including girls at the age of 18 and below.”
“The Liberian government should honor all of its obligation to all international instruments, treaty and conventions at the levels of the West African regional organization, ECOWAS, the continental body, the African Union and the United Nations.”
He called on all media houses to grant their fullest cooperation to the Girls Alliance for Future Leader in order to make the campaign against female genital mutilation for girls to come to a complete halt.
In remarks, the advocacy officer of the Girls Alliance for Future Leadership, Kadiatu Bah said her organization will not rest until the national legislature will enact the law banning the mutilation of the genitals of girls less than 18 years in the country.
Kadiatu Bah
According to her, most of them are advocating against this menace were born during the bloody civil war in Liberia but the evil altitudes that characterized the war days are still affecting the children in Liberia .
She named some of the issues as rape, kidnapping, disappearances, mysterious deaths, ritualistic killings, insecurity, poverty, starvation, child labor, massive corruption, among many others
“Girl child abuses, violence, destitution and rape are perpetrated in Liberia unchecked,” she said; adding: “how long Liberian girls should be subjected to all sorts of violence at the hands of their own people?” she asked.
“We are not safe,” she went on, “to add insult to injury, the Liberian government through the national legislature is paying deaf ears to the high rate of female genital mutilations and child marriage.”
“Most of the lawmakers have ignored the cries of millions of women to protect them against FGM and all sorts of gender-based violence in several parts on ground is the traditional rights of the native people in the country.”
“We will not relent until female genital mutilation is criminalized by the Liberian government because enough is enough.”
The program held under the theme: “Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children; Progress on Policy and Practice Since 2013,” brought together large number of female students from Monrovia and its environs. Report by Augustine Octavius.