Patterns of Female Genital Cutting in Sierra Leone - Unicef

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UNICEF: Patterns of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Sierra Leone
5.2.1. Virginity and Marriageability.
Some of these cultural anchors have lost importance. What was clear from many
interviews is that virginity is no longer terribly important as a pre-requisite for marriage,
and the initiation rituals play a less significant role that in the past in encouraging a girl to
remain a virgin—since it has become rare for girls to remain virgins until marriage,
probably as a result of the massive suffering and social displacements of the war, or to
wait for parental arrangement of marriages. If that is the case, then virginity preservation
is not going to serve as a reason for the continuation of initiation.
Similarly, we can expect that marriageability is not going to play a strong role here, as it
does in some other countries, since sexuality prior to marriage is now well established.
5.2.2. “Tradition” and traditional leaders.
Other cultural anchors, however, have far greater salience. Although “tradition” is a
rather vague reason, it takes on greater importance in light of the many challenges to
identity that Sierra Leoneans with various tribal affiliations have suffered in the
contemporary era. Pride in heritage may reflect nostalgia for pre-war normal life and the
goal of building a proud national identity reflecting the multi-ethnic heritage and the
country’s search for unity from its diversity. In situations following wars and
displacement it is not uncommon to seek to preserve distinctive heritages and to do so
through traditional institutions and leadership roles. Thus chiefs, circumcisers, and
leaders of traditional secret societies in whose rituals so much of distinctive Sierra
Leonean tribal heritage is embodied can be expected to reaffirm their roles in defending
traditional practices against international pressures to abandon them.
The role of educated, professional Sierra Leoneans, parliamentarians, clergy, and other
influential leaders who may adopt positions against the harmful traditional practices is
important, and we can anticipate that there may be some strains or conflicts between
these differing agendas.
5.2.3. Role of religious beliefs and religious organizations.
Because religious beliefs, including fear of the power of witchcraft, are so powerful in
supporting the practices, and because most religious organizations have not taken a
position against the practices, it is difficult to imagine large-scale change occurring
without the discussion of these practices being undertaken by religious organizations and
faith communities. The Pentecostal Churches have started this process. Other
denominations, the Interreligous Council, and individual clergy have played roles in
discussions of several traditional practices and social problems affecting children,
including child marriage, teen pregnancy, and in some cases female genital cutting.
The secret society leaders have been drawn into dialogue with some of the activist
organizations such as KAWDA and AIM. Some aid organizations and embassies have