By Nasratu Kargbo
Mixed emotions filled the Chamber of Parliament last Thursday as MPs expressed different opinions during debate on whether a girl child should reach a consenting age to be able to decide on undergoing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The varied views focused on a bill entitled Child Rights Act 2022 that was brought before the parliamentarians. Constituency 052 MP Dr. Abdulai Daniel Sesay agreed with the clause in the bill that proposes that a girl should reach a consenting age before being subjected to FGM.
“Let the person have informed consent that ‘I want to be circumcised or not,” Said Sesay.
The doctor said there are medical pros and cons associated with the practice, as some women who went through circumcision developed scars and complications during delivery, among others.
Speaking on other aspects of the bill, Sesay said that he disagrees with a clause in the bill that discourages corporal punishment. He asked how a child can be disciplined if he or she disobeys their parents or guardian, fails to go to school or leads a wayward life.
Clause 24 (1) b states that “A person shall not subject a child to corporal punishment”.
In the aspect that speaks of employment and labour, the MP said some parents take their children with them to work and teach them their trade. He explained that at a young age he followed his father to farm and learnt how to farm, adding that his own son used to follow him to the hospital when he was young and that his son is now a medical doctor.
He frowned on the aspect which states that they have to go through procedures for apprenticeship, and questioned whether a boy who wishes to learn mechanics or sign contracts.
Chief Whip of the Opposition Hassan Sesay said they should pay attention to the medical aspect of the matter, but was quick to say that the tradition should not be eliminated.
He asked that they limit underage initiation and that the child should be given the opportunity to make informed choices.
Sesay criticized the Europeans for making the practice look horrible despite the fact that girls that are initiated are taught other values aside from circumcision.
Sahr Charles MP for constituency 028 sternly said that it is the responsibility of a parent to take care of their child before they transition to adulthood, adding that if parents decide to initiate their girl child into bondo society or FGM, they should have the right to do so.
He explained that if the law states that a girl should reach consenting age before undergoing FGM, it logically implies that parents cannot bring up their child alongside the culture or tradition they deemed fit.
Charles said most of these bills attract support from donors, which could be the reason for wanting to enact certain clauses.
Highlighting the good aspects of the bill he cited elimination of child labour and early marriage, amongst others, as practices that limit girls’ potentials.
Speaking emotionally on the matter, representing Emilia Lolloh Tongi of constituency 001said the colonial masters have used the word mutilation in order to make the society look barbaric. “We cannot allow British vocabulary to destroy and portray our tradition to be horrible” said the MP.
She totally frowned at that aspect of the law and added that the Europeans have their own culture to protect.
MP from constituency 086 Neneh Lebbie said she believes the word mutilation should be changed, adding that before now, they used to refer to it as initiation and that what is done during the initiation remained within the confines of that setting.
Lebbie also spoke on the area of child labour, questioning why a parent should be punished if their child carries a bucket of water. She added that most of them are now successful as a result of the upbringing they had. “Allow us to bring up our children the Sierra Leonean way”, she pleaded.
She stated that the bill should go through thorough scrutiny because it hinges on the nation’s culture.
The Speaker of Parliament Dr. Chernor Abass Bundu said the nation should not borrow a culture which does not suit Sierra Leone. He said most adult Sierra Leoneans have gone through corporal punishment, emphasizing that it is an essential value of African culture.
“Let us be sensitive about our own culture”, he said.
He said he would not want to preside over a parliament that borrows concepts from other cultures thinking it is the modern, trending or right thing to do.
The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Manty Tarawalli said that proper consultation was done with the National Council of Soweis (initiators of FGM), Council of Paramount Chiefs and other relevant groups across the country.
In the area of corporal punishment she said the decision was taken because children have been hospitalized as a result of corporal punishment.
The bill was sent to the legislative committee for proper scrutiny and consultation.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (27/02/23)
