By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, Sierra Leone – February 6, 2026 On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Amnesty International Sierra Leone, the Advocacy Movement Network (AMNET), and the Children’s Forum Network issued strong calls for urgent legislative action to protect girls from the practice, warning that Sierra Leone risks failing its human rights obligations if decisive steps are not taken.
At a press conference in Freetown, Amnesty International Sierra Leone Director Solomon Moses Sogbandi described FGM as “a violation of fundamental rights, amounting to torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.” He cited the 2019 Demographic and Health Survey, which found that 83 percent of women aged 15 to 49 had undergone FGM, and criticized the government for failing to explicitly outlaw the practice in the 2025 Child Rights Act. Sogbandi urged authorities to comply with the July 2025 ECOWAS Court ruling that ordered Sierra Leone to criminalize FGM, calling for stringent penalties and robust enforcement mechanisms.
AMNET Chief Executive Officer Brima Conteh echoed the urgency, stressing that ending FGM by 2030 requires sustained investment, strong partnerships, and intensified national movements. He warned that harmful stereotypes persist and highlighted the need for community-level action and financial resources to dismantle cultural practices that endanger girls.
Presidential spokesperson for the Children’s Forum Network, Blessing K. J. Kutubu, was even more direct, accusing policymakers of failing children. She condemned the removal of the FGM clause from the Child Rights Act of 2025, arguing that “any tradition which cannot protect the rights of children is not a true tradition.” Kutubu said FGM is a life-and-death issue, not a matter of chance, and emphasized that the future of Sierra Leone’s children lies in the hands of the government.
Together, the organizations called for immediate criminalization of FGM, accountability for perpetrators, and renewed investment in anti-FGM campaigns. They urged President Julius Maada Bio to lead by example, champion reforms, and allocate resources to protect girls’ rights.
Prevalence
83% of women aged 15–49 in Sierra Leone have undergone FGM, according to the 2019 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and UNICEF Data.
FGM is most commonly performed on girls between ages 10–14, though some undergo it as early as age 5.
The most prevalent form is flesh removal, carried out almost entirely by traditional practitioners.
The 2025 Child Rights Act was reviewed but did not explicitly criminalize FGM, leaving a gap in protection.
In July 2025, the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled that FGM constitutes torture and ordered Sierra Leone to enact legislation banning the practice