Freetown, Sierra Leone, 12th September 2015- Global Women’s Rights Advocate and founder of ‘A Girl At A Time’, Alimatu Dimonekene (M.B.E), has issued a powerful call for Sierra Leone to abandon outdated practices and embrace genuine gender reform, declaring that,
“FGM is no longer relevant to the structure of the Sierra Leonean people.”
Speaking to Truth Media, Dimonekene emphasized that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains one of the most harmful legacies of patriarchy and cultural rigidity, one that continues to undermine the freedom and dignity of Sierra Leonean women.
“No woman is free in Sierra Leone. That’s the honest truth,” she said. “If you want to see a country progress, you have to genuinely empower women. FGM does not empower women.”
Her remarks come in the wake of the landmark Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, which she praised as a major step forward for the country.
“I have never seen such a progressive law as the GEWE Act. I want to commend the government,” Dimonekene stated, applauding President Julius Maada Bio’s leadership in pushing the legislation through.
But while she celebrated the GEWE Act, Dimonekene expressed disappointment over Parliament’s handling of the Child Rights Act, which she believes was derailed by cultural resistance.
“Where did we go wrong in the Child Rights Act? Parliamentarians felt it went against their culture,” she said. “If we want to solve our societal issues, our MPs need to listen to the people.”
Dimonekene also stressed the importance of diaspora engagement, urging Sierra Leoneans abroad to take an active role in shaping the nation’s future.
“We in the diaspora have a role to play in the development of the nation,” she affirmed.
Her message is clear: Sierra Leone cannot afford to cling to traditions that harm its women and children. With the GEWE Act as a foundation, she believes the country now has a chance to build a more inclusive and just society, if leaders are willing to listen and act.
