Ganta, Nimba County – Over five hundred traditional zoes from the 19 Administrative Districts in Nimba County gathered in Gbanquoi, Tappita district, and handed over their traditional tools and rituals to the Chief Zoe of the Republic of Liberia.
By Franklin Doloquee/Nimba County
The closure of bush schools in the traditional groves in Nimba County in support of the elimination of FGM practices in Liberia was implemented by the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NACCEL), the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, with technical support from the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP), with funding support from UN Women Liberia and the Government of Sweden.
The ceremony took place on Friday, October 27, 2023, with chiefs and elders from the 15 counties in attendance in Gbanquoi.
Speaking at the ceremony, the National Chairman for the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NACCEL), Chief Zoe Zanzan Karwor, banned the practice of FGM in Nimba County.
He told the female zoes that they would no longer be allowed to practice FGM, which is a harmful traditional practice in women’s culture. However, they would be permitted to practice other aspects of their culture in the country.
“We are banning FGM, a harmful traditional practice carried out in the Sande society. From now on, no one should practice it in Nimba County. We will call on UN Women and the Swedish government to support us in Grand Bassa County and other counties still involved in such practices,” Chief Zanzan Karwor added.
Chief Zanzan Karwor then urged the Nimba County traditional zoes to use the heritage center to engage in skills training that would enable them to be more productive in society.
He emphasized that women were not being stopped from practicing their culture, but only the harmful traditional practices were being removed and prohibited in the county.
The Liberia Chief Zoe called on UN Women, the Swedish government, and others to ban FGM practices in the remaining counties, including Grand Bassa and others.
Our Nimba County correspondent, covering the events, reported that over five hundred traditional female zoes who handed over their traditional tools and rituals were unhappy and appeared unready to leave such practices but were compelled to do so. Many of them were seen crying when asked to bring their tools and rituals from the bush before handing them over to Chief Zoe Zanzan Karwor.
“Just giving up a long-standing practice is not easy, but thank you for doing it. From today onwards, FGM practices will not take place in Nimba County. We will move to Grand Bassa County and the other 15 counties to stop FGM practices,” Chief Zanzan Karwor added.
Some young girls who had gathered to witness the event threatened to leave the country and cross over to Guinea and Ivory Coast to attend bush schools.
The ceremony was witnessed by chiefs, elders, and zoes from the 15 counties who thanked the Nimba County female zoes for taking such action.
During the ceremony, Traditional Queen and Executive Director for LCP, and Co-chair of the Taskforce on FGM, Juli Endee, thanked the female traditional zoes for turning over their tools and rituals.
She explained that they were not forced to do so but chose to protect the future of young girls and women.
“Let’s support the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and promote initiation without mutilation. We are all fighting gender-based violence against women and girls and against harmful traditional practices,” she added.
According to Juli Endee, the decision will help save the future of young girls and women in the country. She emphasized that the female zoes’ commitment to combating FGM practices was not influenced by international money but by their desire to protect the future of young girls and women.
“Don’t be fooled; this is the right decision you made today to help protect the future of young girls and women. The structure should be used to empower rural women across the county in skills and agricultural activities that will improve their lives,” Juli Endee added.
She noted that the decision taken would be welcomed by unborn generations, and other nations would likely follow suit.
UN Women Liberia Country Representative Comfort Lamptey expressed gratitude to the Nimba County female traditional zoes for embracing the change in their lives. She explained that in February 2023, Chief Zanzan Karwor banned the practice of FGM across the country. She pledged the United Nations’ support for the structure being built in Gbanquoi, with other UN organizations getting involved to enhance it for the female zoes.
The UN Women Liberia Country Representative revealed that the center would empower women in the county and disclosed that the decision would be included in the Liberian constitution through the involvement of lawmakers.
Sweden Embassy representative Dwede Tarpeh pledged the embassy’s support for development activities in Liberia, emphasizing that the decision taken by female zoes in Nimba County would protect the future of young girls in the country. Additionally, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) National Program Officer Ernree B. Neeplo and ActionAid Liberia Country Director Elizabeth Johnson pledged their respective organizations’ support for women’s empowerment and thanked the Nimba County female zoes for their role in the fight against FGM practices in Liberia.
Meanwhile, the Head of Traditional Female Zoes for Nimba County, Piaseh O. Gonsahn, and Mary Karkazar called on the UN Women Liberia Country Representative and the government of Liberia to modernize the structure they turned over, requesting additional materials to enhance the building.
The Director of Culture and Custom at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Williams Jallah, thanked the female zoes in Nimba County for allowing change to take place in their county.