PHOTO: Traditional leaders on Sande and Poro practices
By King Brown, sarwahking@gmail.com
BUCHANAN, Liberia – Traditional Leaders across Liberia have reaffirmed their commitment to upholding a policy document they signed in Bong County in February 2022 to temporarily suspend all Sande society practices for the period of three years.
They made the commitment through a resolution that was signed by them at a two-day Multi-Stakeholders dialogue sessions on the practice of female Genital mutilation (FGM) in Grand Bassa County.
It was organized by Women Initiative For Self Help(WISH), a Non-for-profit organization based in Buchanan.
The two days gathering was a collaborative one.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Council of chiefs and Elders of Liberia okay a key role in making the two days gathering a success.
The national council of elders and chiefs is an institution charged with the responsibility to protect, preserve, and foster positive Liberian Culture and tradition.
Based on their commitment to obey the three years ban on Sande Society practices, the Chairman of the National Council of chiefs and Elders of Liberia, Chief Zanzan Kaiwor mandated all Sande and Poro practitioners to immediately close all traditional schools across the country.
Chief Kaiwor noted that his mandate is in line with the national policy document signed by all chiefs from 11 counties on the three-years suspension of Sande activities.
The traditional chief mentioned that the mandate is supported by the Assistant Minister of culture affairs and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Varney Sirleaf.
“Any traditional leader or practitioner or Sande Zoe caught violating this pronouncement during the period of suspension shall be penalized in keeping with the traditional laws and policies of Liberia or be held liable on convention of fine as provided for under Section 50.7(c) of the penal law,” he added.
After a series of dialogue with traditional Leaders and practitioners, WISH, traditional Leaders and county. authorities in Grand Bassa County reached an agreement for implementation and effectiveness of the policy statement on the pronouncement for the three-years suspension of Sande activities and ensure is adhered to the fullest.
The independent of the resolution is to create a platform for the different FGM actors to dialogue and serve as a campaigner about the practice in the Communities and the renewal of previous policy signed by traditional leaders on the suspension of FGM.
The dialogue plead with stakeholders to design innovative ways through which Liberia can address female Genital mutilation whilst at the same time maintaining other important components of Liberia’s cultural Heritage.
At the same Time, traditional leaders and practitioners appealed to partners to provide funding and logistical Support for full implementation of the national inventory, monitoring and enforcement of full adherence to the suspension.
The two days national training with Support from the Amplify Change Initiative ran from Thursday, October 27 to Saturday, October 29, 2022.
The dialogue was attended by thirty participants including traditional Leaders, women, youth groups, members of the Civil Society organizations and government officials.