EU Ambassador Criticises Child Rights Act for Ignoring FGM Ban

As Sierra Leone marks the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the European Union Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Jacek Jankowski, has praised government efforts to protect women and girls but criticised the newly enacted Child Rights Act of 2025 for failing to outlaw Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Speaking at the launch of this year’s campaign, Ambassador Jankowski acknowledged improvements in legislation and protection mechanisms but stressed that the absence of a clear legal ban on FGM remains a major gap.

“The government has made important improvements in protecting women and girls,” he said. “But the Child Rights Act of 2025 is a missed opportunity. It should have banned and criminalized FGM once and for all.”

FGM, locally known as Bondo, remains widely practised in Sierra Leone despite strong international condemnation. The ECOWAS Court of Justice has described the practice as one of the worst forms of violence against women and, when inflicted intentionally, capable of meeting the threshold for torture.

Survivors continue to recount painful experiences, underscoring the physical and psychological harm caused by the ritual.

Isatu Sesay, cut at the age of seven, recalled the trauma she still carries.

“I was only seven years old when I was cut twice because the soweis said my clitoris grew again,” she said. “I ran away out of fear but I was captured and taken to the Bondo bush. It was horrific. I still get flashes of that day, and I had complications during childbirth because of the scarring.”

Another survivor, Fatmata Koker, said she felt betrayed by her family.

“I was invited to Kailahun for the holidays. Over ten women held me down and took me to the Bondo bush. I was cut without consent. The pain was unbearable, and I felt robbed of my right to choose,” she said.

Survivors shared similar stories at the Young Women Conference and Festival 2025, themed Voices of Rebirth: Young Women Rising Beyond the Cut.

Jalahan Jakema, cut at twelve, said the tradition was used against her in a family dispute.

“I became a pawn for revenge during a dispute with soweis. I suffered injustice and humiliation. My voice drowned,” she said.

Nyamakoro Marrah described being deceived by her mother.

“She tricked me into going for a walk. She disappeared and twelve women surrounded me. I fought, but it didn’t matter. It took years to heal mentally,” she said.

Advocates argue that while the Bondo society is culturally significant, it must evolve to protect girls.

“The Bondo is not a bad tradition if there is no cutting. Girls should be able to dance to the drums without fear,” Sesay said.

Koker, now an advocate, said the law must reflect real protection.

“FGM is violence. It must be named in the Act and criminalized. No woman or girl should go through what I went through,” she added.

Jakema echoed the call for reform:

“A culture that hurts should not be preserved. All forms of violence against women and girls must end.”

Ambassador Jankowski urged the government to revisit the Child Rights Act and strengthen legal protections for future generations, saying that a genuine commitment to ending violence against women must include a clear prohibition of cutting.