local and National stakeholder Dialogues held in kakata, Careysburg, and Bopolu Cities
Background:
The dialogue with national and local leaders is an activity under the End-FGM project. The dialogues were intended to discuss the draft Anti-FGM bill with local and traditional leaders in order for them to have their say on the bill, and to derive suggestion and recommendations for forwarding to the legislature to be included in the bill.
Report Objective:
The objective of this report is to provide a clear understanding of what was done, what was achieved and the stakeholders involved as well as lessons learned and challenges.
Detail activity
During the months of January to February, 2024 CRI-L organized four (4) separate dialogue with local and national stakeholders in in 3 counties (Montserrado Margibi and Gbarpolu) the dialogues were held in kakata city, Margibi County, Bopolu city in Gbarpou County and Monrovia, Montserrado County. The dialogues were held at the Bopolu City hall, the Survival Aid International Liberia conference Room in Kakata, Margibi County, Careysburg City Hall and the Sinkor Palace Hotel in Montserrado County. The dialogue brought people from towns, villages, clans and cities. A total of 200 persons in 3 Counties including, women and girls rights protection organizations, Local leaders, representatives from the ministry of internal affairs, media institutions, youth groups among others. During the dialogues, all participants were given copies of the draft bill titled: ‘An Act Prohibiting Female Genital Mutilation in Liberia’ in order for them to review and make their own inputs in the recommendations that were being derived to be submitted to the house of legislature for the passage of the bill. The dialogues lasted for 2 hours 30 minutes each, beginning at 10:00Am- 12:30PM daily. The dialogues were held in the following and dates: Bopolu City, February 1, 2024, Kakata City, February 8, 2024, Careysburg City, February 15, 2024 and Monrovia, February 22, 2024. The dialogues were facilitated by Mr. Moses Gbakpala Sr. County inspector of Margibi County, representing the ministry of Internal Affairs, Mr. Jeffrey Carter youth chair of Bopolu City, Ms Sandra T. Kanswen, Advocacy Officer of CRI-L. Also during the dialogues, the local chiefs, traditional leaders and women groups recommended that the bill should not be passed without their inputs and suggestions highlighted. Local and traditional leaders also express their dismay, stating that they were never consulted by their representative about such bill that is currently at the parliament.
At the end of each dialogue, women, youths, men and chiefs recommendation were gathered through separate group works and presentation. The recommendation will be included into the petition statement that will be presented to the legislature for the passage of the bill.
