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Lunsar Residents Lessoned On FGM |
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Written by By Abdul Kabia
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Wednesday, 02 December 2009 |
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Some residents of Lunsar Town in Marampa Chiefdom on Wednesday November 25 benefited from a day training workshop on Female Genital Mutilations FGM and other gender-based violence related issues.
FGM is the partly or wholly removal of women’s clitoris.
The training which was organized by the Port Loko District Development Organization (PLDDO) at the Ebenezer Church Hall in Marampa Chiefdom was witnessed by local authorities, parents, school authority, police representative, female school-going pupils etc.
Training consultant, Mr. Lovell Kargbo said in a mild tone that FGM is one of the traditional beliefs in the country that is perpetrating violence on young girls.
“This is a harmful traditional practice that has been legitimized in our culture,” he said.
On child/ adult sexual abuse, Mr. Kargbo said society should retreat from having sex with children below the ages of 18 years.
He said, “Cases abound of older people, especially men, making with under-aged children. This harmful traditional practice has devastating effect on the health and economy of a nation, especially on a girl-child who is at risk throughout their lives.”
Director of PLDDO Mohamed Sampha Bangura said children are future leaders “and it is obliged upon us to give them the necessary care due them. And one of the care is to protect them from early marriage and unwanted pregnancy.” One of the trainees Isatu Kamara said the training is very much timely, especially when the issue of FGM and its related issues are bordering women especially young girls in their communities. Miss Kabia, a school-going girl, stressed that the campaign focuses on Secret Societies Leaders (Poros and Poweis) who are the major perpetrators of what she described as harmful traditional practice. |
