It is no longer any secret that the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLB)L has continued to provide more jobs in the area of enhancing agriculture and empower sorghum farmers .

Albert Ojo Collier, Corporate Affairs Manager; told this medium that SLBL will embark on its usual Sorghum development and harvest campaign in the South and Eastern provinces from Tuesday 5th to Saturday 9th February 2019 visiting Kailahun, Kenema, Bo and Moyamba. The team comprise Albert Ojo Collier, Unisa Conteh Corporate Affairs Assistant, Denis Jusu, Chairman Sorghum Farmers and Marketers’ Association.

“Previously we concluded a pre-planting campaign all over the country to encourage more farmers to go into sorghum cultivation and grow more sorghum for sale to SLBL in the local content job creation drive,” he disclosed.

He noted that it’s time for harvest and they are conducting the aforementioned campaign to assure the farmers that they are ready to buy all the quantity of sorghum they will harvest further assuring them of a good partnership.

He further informed this medium that they are together with the Chairman Denis Jusu of the Sorghum Farmers Chairman going through remote villages to meet the farmers and even buy some grains through their nucleus farmers through cash purchase.

He added that they are also talking to the farmers via radio stations, holding town hall meetings, meeting Youth Farmer Groups, District Council etc.
It is on record that for quite a considerable period of time now the relationship between SLBL and Sorghum farmers has been very cordial. As a matter of fact the partnership between the two has contributed to provide jobs, in the form of commercial farming, for over 25,000 Sierra Leonean farmers country-wide thereby contributing in poverty reduction. One cannot say it is an exaggeration to underpin that the standards of living of the beneficiaries has improved considerably, with cascading effects, out of what they realise after sale of their harvested produce to SLBL.

“We are very happy with the way and manner how SLBL is empowering Sorghum farmers in the country and we are doing everything humanely possible to ensure that the mutual relationship is improved for the mutual benefit of all and in the best interest of the country,” Chairman of the Sorghum Famers maintained.
Sorghum is one of the ingredients used by SLBL to produce some of their beverages that are marketed.

On the 5th February 2019 the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs launched the first Tourism In-Flight Magazine as well as officially opening the First City Tourist Information Centre at the Sierra Leone museum in Freetown.
Launching the magazine, the Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Juldeh Jalloh commended the Minister of Tourism and the Acting General Manager of National Tourist Board for taking the tourism to another level.
He stated that tourism is one of the top priorities in the New Direction and as a Government they will ensure that tourism in Sierra Leone is made more attractive more to tourists.
He noted that to improve tourism there must be strong policies that will allow Sierra Leone tourism to meet international standards.
The Vice President said the magazine will market Sierra Leone to attract more visitors, adding that tourism is one of the areas Government is paying more attention because it generates revenue for the country.
He informed that they have tried to ensure that the prices of flight tickets are reduced so that the country will be open to businessmen to invest
He stated that the City Information Centre will give the opportunity to citizens and non-citizens to know more about the country’s tourist destinations.
He advised the Minister of Tourism to continue to collaborate with more sectors especially the private to ensure that people invest in tourism.
The Minister of Tourism and Culture, Dr. Memunatu Pratt said that the In-Flight Magazine will showcase the potentials of Sierra Leone.
She informed that this is another milestone in the rebranding and changing of the mind-sets of Sierra Leoneans and making tourism a household name in country.
She noted that the magazine is very important because it will promote culture and tourism.
The Minister underscored how the magazine will give people the opportunity to read and know about positive things that are coming from Sierra Leone, saying that this is also one way of changing the negative mind-sets about the country.
She explained that the magazine contains information of all tourism destinations in the country and it also showcases the progress that has been made in the past nine months in the tourism sector, pointing out that there is the political will which has helped to strengthen the sector.
She added that this is the first time in the country’s history to have such a magazine noting that will expose Sierra Leone internationally.
According to the Minister the first flight magazine is a manifestation that the country is ready for business.
She informed that over the years tourism was nothing good to write home about but pointed out that the New Direction is determined to rebrand and market the sector.
She furthered that they have been collaborating with other Government agencies and the private sectors.
Speaking about the City Tourism Information Centre, the Minister emphasized that the centre is vital in the sense that it avails the opportunity for citizens and non-citizens to know more about the country’s tourism sector.
She said tourism is important to everyone and she used the occasion to call on people to market the country’s tourism on both national and international platforms.
She assured that Sierra Leone tourism will never relegate as tourism is now at the centre of her heart.
In her statement, the Acting General Manager of the Sierra Leone National Tourist Board (NBT), Madam Fatmata Abe-Osagie said that they are determine to transform the tourism sector by attracting more tour operators to visit the country.
She disclosed that from October to December 2018, the country recorded the highest visitors compared to 2017.
According to the Acting GM the country recorded an estimate of 10.5% of visitors’ arrivals in 2018.

Fulbeh Union Sierra Leone last Sunday held the second edition of their annual Fula Quiz and Debating Competition at the Miatta Conference Centre, Youyi Building.
Newcomers into the competition, Western Area Fula Youths’ (WAFYA) Abdulai Omar Jalloh and Fatmata Jariue Jalloh ended up winning a very tight competition with 93 points. Last year’s winners Ghandal Forly however only managed to clinch the second prize with 91 points and the Progressive Fula Youths took the third prize with 89 points.
Several Fula organisations were invited to send representatives of which eight organisations were selected including, Ghandal Forly, I’m Proud to be a Fula (84 points), Western Area Fula Youths, Fula Foundation (85 points), Haldi Fotti (83 points), Progressive Fula Youths, Pottal Fi Bhantal Fulbeh (86 points), and Sweet Pottal. However Sweet Pottal made a last minute withdrawal.
Speaking at the event guest speaker, renowned Fula Chief and businessman, Alhaji Manoma applauded FUSL for their brilliant initiative which according to him would surely add value to the Fula language.
He said such are the programs he loves to hear about and witness noting he himself realised of late that the Fula language has been disappearing among the youths in the country.
Alhaji Manoma urged all who attended to speak the language at all times when in company of their tribesmen or at home to their children. He said the language is one of the most important thing that identifies a tribe and if the language disappears, then there is no tribe.
However, he berated the Fula Community for not showing up in numbers to support FUSL insisting that he is highly disappointed. He said he expected to see a large turnout especially after the success of the first edition, but that they have disappointed him.
He encouraged FUSL members to not give up and urged them to continue with the hope that someday, they would reap some benefit from their good work.
President of Fulbeh Union Sierra Leone, Sallieu Bah (Elba) thanked everybody for coming. He said the aim of FUSL is to preserve and protect the Fula culture and tradition which he noticed has been disappearing lately.
He noted that everybody is so focused on the Western Culture that we are virtually forgetting our own as Africans. He said the initiative came about as a result of the fact that there are several Fula youths out there who cannot speak the language or who are poor in speaking the language.
Sallieu Bah informed that this is why as an organisation, FUSL decided to bring this annual competition which he believes would motivate the Fula youths to practice speaking the language eloquently and to understand some of the deep meanings of the language.
He said he hopes that more of the Fula community would turn up in the next edition of the competition next year.
One of the winners, Abdulai Omar Jalloh thanked FUSL for such a wonderful initiative. He said he was happy that they were invited to the program as they missed out last year.
He said key reason for their winning was because they actually wrote the poem that they used in the program unlike their colleagues who actually searched the internet for theirs.
He called on the Fula community to support FUSL in their future program as this would not be the last.
The competition was done in three sessions. First session had to do with Quizzes on general knowledge of the Fula language and narration of some idioms in the language. The second session dealt with poems which were read in the Fula language and the third session had to do with an actual debate in Fula on four solid topics.
The judges of the competition are renowned Fula Islamic scholars in the country including Sheik Umar Bah, Sheik Allieu Jalloh, Sheik Mahmud Bah and the Chief Judge Sheik Mohamed Sanusie Jalloh who did an excellent job of moderating the whole show.
Mohamed Ramadan Bah of Culture Radio was the Chairman of the event alongside the Public Relations person of FUSL

For the first time in history, Sierra Leone will host a Big Brother 2019 TV Reality Show, an entertainment programme coming in the wake of the Big Sister TV Reality Show that turned out to be highly successful, according to what many attested. Of course, the country- wide auditions went on well and they were very interesting as some of the contestants left viewers laughing their sides out because of the funny ways they responded to questions, some out of ignorance ,nervousness and others comically. Others captivated brilliance by responding intelligently to the questions posed by the Judges having a blind girl in one of the provincial towns who really held viewers spellbound. Those interesting aspects of the auditions have now whetted the appetite of fans or viewers to really see how their favorite would-be housemates, who would finally make it to the House on 14 February 2019, Valentine’s Day, where they will battle for the ultimate prize of One Hundred Million Leones (Le 100,000,000), will cleverly display their God-given talents.
It is interesting to note that after the end of the auditions in various parts of the country the Judges shortlisted 40 contestants setting the stage for another phase where the public were given the opportunity to vote via Africell Toll Number 5500, which is totally free, for 20 out of the aforementioned shortlisted names (10 male & 10 female) to enter the House. What is so ironical about Big Brother as opposed to Big Sister is the fact the former is going to be a combination of male and female housemates were as Big Sister was exclusively a female event.
Preparations are intensely ongoing progressively and steadily by the organizers of this upcoming TV Reality Show, Africa Young Voices (AYV) and Africell as final touches are being put in place to ensure that the event turns out to be a success story.
The Calabash learnt, from various interviews conducted and discussions monitored in different quarters that Sierra Leoneans in-country and overseas, who are fortunate to tune in to AYV Television will stay glued to their TV sets to watch the series of performances by the housemates who are expected to impressively display their natural talents in different ways to fit into the stipulated criteria that the Judges will be looking forward to in order to making their assessments.
Big Brother is also going to be an elimination contest where what will determine a housemate to remain in the House is the number of votes he or she scoops from viewers or fans who will be voting via an Africell number. However, for each day a housemate stays in the House he or she is entitled to the sum of One Hundred Thousand Leones (Le100, 000).
It is expected that with the successful organization of two outstanding TV Reality shows such will really put Sierra Leone high on the international entertainment stage and showcase the country’s young talents.
Against that backdrop, a foreign diplomat commended the organizers for taking the bold steps in rolling out the two events Big Sister and Big Brother.

The much talked about Commissions of Inquiry, instituted by the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and which were commissioned by no less a person than His Excellency the President Julius Maada Bio on the 29 January 2019 commenced work past Monday, 4 February 2019, at the former Special Court for Sierra Leone in Freetown.
The Commissions of Inquiry were headed by Justice Biobele Georgewill, Justice Bankole Thompson Justice William Annan Atuguba.
During first day hearing there was an assurance of fairness and independence by Justice Biobele Georgewill of Commission No. 1 who said all those who will be invited will get nothing but a fair and independent process. “Only justice will be done to all and, most importantly, no injustice will be done to anyone,” he assured adding: “I am here to serve without fear, favor or affection.”
Contrary to what many have speculating that the actual probing of public officials that served within the Governance structure that was in place from 2007 to 2018 under the APC and named in the Governance Transition Report (GTT), will commence, however, what transpired was the presentation of evidential documents before the three judges, a process that is slated to last for three to four weeks before the probing commences. A representative from the Auditor General’s Office, Secretary to the Cabinet were among those who forwarded evidential documents detailing how public funds were expended and best practices flouted.
Interestingly, in various parts of the country some people were very apprehensive that with the commencement of the Commissions of Inquiry violence will erupt within the country. From what was understood this fear was accentuated by inciting radio phone-in messages that Monday was going to be a bloody day. This was also heightened by a whatsapp message posted by one Gibril Bangura who is residing overseas that APC is will come out big time to protest
This created a situation were certain parents restricted their children from attending school and business entities opened a little bit late than the usual time. There were panics in Port Loko, some areas within the Western Rural District and few parts of the country
It will be recalled that the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party despite stating that they are not opposed to the establishment of any Commission of Inquiry, however, raised certain objections bordering on the credibility of one of the Judges, lack of the rules of evidence, the starting and cutting period taken into consideration for the probing of the public officials (2007 to 2018) etc. The party maintained that if constitutionality is not adhered to then they are not prepared to comply with Commission of Inquiry stressing that otherwise it is a mere witch hunt.
In determined tones President Bio during the launch of the Commissions said in no uncertain terms that if anyone who is invited to face the three Commissions of Inquiry refuses to go then that individual will face the full penalty of the law underscoring that the Commissions have the powers of a High Court.
The Commissions were necessitated by the outcome of a Presidential Committee, headed Professor David Francis, which took stock of the activities of the Koroma administration; just days after Mr Bio assumed office, following his election in March 2018.

A donation of items was made to the pupils and teachers of Maria Primary School situated at Grafton in the outskirt of the Freetown City by Sierramin Bauxite group in collaboration with Mariatu Kargbo Foundation.
The donated items were ten bags of rice, shoes, clothes and monies for the teachers. The donation was done by Mr. and Mrs. Patel on behalf of Sierramin Bauxite Group.
Ibrahim Bangura ,who happens to be the Public Relation Officer for the Mariatu Kargbo Foundation , disclosed that the Mariatu Kargbo Foundation wants to make sure they keep the children in mind and support them for them to get the best out of life and become the future leaders they are looking for now.
He said they are in Grafton with Sierramin Bauxite group to continue their support to the school.
Bangura said they appreciate and thank Sierramin Bauxite for their support; “This is what we are looking for from other Sierra Leoneans, be patriotic about Sierra Leone, it is about supporting ourselves and boosting the people that need it much and getting the vulnerable to become part of the society in a very flexible and peaceful way.”
Whiles donating the items a member of Sierramin Bauxite group Madam Isatu Patel, said that they decided to donate the above items due to the challenges they discovered that the school is faced with and she promised that they will continue to do more.
Personal Assistant to Isatu Patel, Sahr Ngegba also registered that Sierramin Bauxite group will continue to give support towards the school saying it is something that will happen quarterly.
Sahr Ngegba explained that Mr and Mrs Patel came in contact with Mariatu Kargbo when they visited China recently.
He said during their conversation, Marian talked about her school in Freetown and the challenges they are facing.
Upon that Mr. and Mrs. Patel promised to support the school and that when they return to Freetown they will do something for the school.
“Today we are here to fulfil that promise,” he said with elation.
He disclosed that they will continue to help the school as what they have done was just a start and they will do it quarterly.
He thanked the teachers for their wonderful job and emphasised that they know about the flagship program of the Government which is free and quality education.
Receiving the items, Maria Primary School Head Teacher, Madam Lamrana Jalloh described the day as another remarkable day for them.
She said Maria always reduces their stress whenever they want to.
“Maria always comes to our aid. She did not allow us to strain.”
She continued to thank the company and Mr. and Mrs. Patel for their timely intervention to support the school.
The Head Teacher used the opportunity to call on government to approve the school as well as its teachers.
Grafton Polio Community Chairman, Simeon Kamara thanked the company and Maria for their support.
“This is not the first time Maria is recommending us for support, she is upkeeping the school and the name of the school is well known today for which we are grateful”
Aunty Beckey presented the items on behalf of the company.

It is noted that one of the outstanding institutions in the country, the Legal Aid Board is concerned about how the poor and marginalized are increasing in high demand for its services around the country in the lead up to and after the launch of the Commissions of Inquiry on 29 January 2019.
The Board provided legal assistance to over hundred and fifty suspects in Police Stations in Freetown and other parts of the country in the past week. Most of these cases relate to crime and lawlessness. Also, the Board received several calls from the public including politicians, stakeholders and police officers informing the Board about indigent suspects who have a right to our services.
At the same time, many have expressed alarm at the highly charged atmosphere and the level of intolerance in communities. The Board is concerned the situation could degenerate to levels seen in the March 2018 General Elections, if politicians do not tone down their rhetoric.
The rising tension, as we have come to find out, is in large part due to the level of ignorance among the public about the Commissions. What is more, there are the educated who choose to believe the lies that are being told about the Commissions by politicians. The Board is however convinced that some of the disputes and violence relating to the Commission could be prevented through education and sensitization.
This is why we are calling on the Ministry of Information and Communication to continue to ensure community ownership of the process and work with Community Based Organizations, chiefdom Human Rights Committees and Civil Society Groups, Local Authorities, Stakeholders and Community Radios to educate the public on the Commissions and also mediate community level disputes before they degenerate into violence.
The Board wishes it to be known that while indigent persons (poor and marginalized) have a right to legal advice and legal representation, it is important to note that the Board does not have enough personnel to provide these services to all those who are entitled to them. With Sixteen (16) lawyers and forty-two (42) Paralegals stationed around the country, the Board simply cannot guarantee these services to all indigents even though they have a right to them.
The Board would therefore like to call on all especially indigents to reframe from engaging in violence due to the commissions. Those who take to violence and fall foul of the law will not be given priority by the Board.
The Board wants its clients to know that those who have issues with the Commissions should take them to the courts. The Sierra Leone Bar Association is doing just that. Politicians can do the same if they have any such issues. Resorting to violence because one is opposed to the Commission is totally unacceptable. Those who allow themselves to be used will be on their own and therefore will not receive any assistance from the Board for reason already articulated.
We call on all to allow the Rule of Law to operate.

During the commemoration of World Cancer Day held at the Bintumani Conference Hall at Aberdeen in Freetown on 4th February 2019, the First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio, told the audience that only diagnosis can save lives and called on the Government to ensure that a cancer treatment centre is established in the country.
The event was graced by President Bio, Vice President Juldeh Jalloh, members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corp, MPs, Ministers and a host of development partners and health stakeholders. Madam Bio explained how she was able to get international attention to the plight of cancer patients in Sierra Leone during an international conference she attended overseas. She explained that because of the absence of cancer diagnosis machines, medical expertise and the necessary facilities for the treatment of cancer, 70% of people who have the disease die of it.
The First Lady further disclosed that 10 Doctors will soon be leaving the country for further studies on cancer, and on their return they will boost the country’s ability to handle the disease. These doctors are being sponsored by her Foundation ( Fatima Bio Foundation) to study in India and Egypt. She then introduced the doctors to the audience and admonished them to take their studies very seriously and return to the country to help their compatriots.
Madam Bio further unveiled a blue print of the type of standard hospital that she is calling on the Government to build in the country. This hospital will not only serve Sierra Leoneans, but will serve citizens from the neighbouring countries of Guinea and Liberia. The hospital, she stated will not only be for cancer treatment, but will embrace all types of ailments. She stressed that after independence the country’s hospital has not changed and it is now time to get a modern facility with all the necessary equipment to handle all types of diseases. She stressed that the construction of a cancer treatment and diagnosis centre is urgent.
She singled out Dr. Owiss Koroma for an award, which she said he deserves as the only pathologist in the country with over 30 years’ experience and an ardent campaigner against the disease. The plaque was officially handed over to the pathologist for his service by the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio.
Giving the Keynote address, President Bio gave harrowing figures of cases of cancer recorded in the country. He said 3,000 people are diagnosed every year with cancer and out of this number, 2,200 of them die. He stressed that 900 of the 2,200 are male whilst 1,300 are female. This is so because the majority of them do not have the finance to pay for overseas treatment and the country lacked the facility and expertise to deal with such cases. He further recalled that during his campaign he promised to develop the human capital and praised the First Lady for taking this venture to fund 10 doctors to do further studies (specialized courses). This move, his government will complement. Treatment from all diseases must be made available, accessible and affordable to all Sierra Leoneans, he added.
He called for the intensification of awareness campaign, which he said should start now, if the war against the disease is to be won. President Bio further disclosed that a diagnosis centre and a Radiotherapy unit is going to cost the country $19.8 billion at an interest rate of 1.7% over a 10 year period. Sierra Leoneans deserve better healthcare service delivery.
Other speakers made similar statements and called for awareness raising campaign across the nation. Passionate appeals were made by 2 surviving cancer patients, Madam Simingie Mondeh and Kadija Konneh. A gift was given to the First Lady by the Cancer Society as a token of their appreciation for taking onboard their course.
A skit about cancer and a video of the blueprint of the First Lady’s Hospital Complex was displayed. The ceremony was climaxed by the vote of thanks offered by Kadija Konneh, a cancer survivor.

Ummah Welfare Trust is a UK-based International Relief, Development and Charitable Organization which years back was convinced or influenced to consider Sierra Leone in their humanitarian gestures by one of the country’s business tycoons, a politician and philanthropist in no less a person than the compassionate minded Hon. Musa Tarawallie.
The Organization on Saturday 2nd February 2019 donated the sum of 3.8 Billion Leones to Muslims in the Moyamba District, Southern Sierra Leone.
Before the donation was made, Musa Tarawallie who led the team gave brief background information about Ummah Welfare Trust revealing how it is one of the largest Muslim Charitable Organizations in the world.
“I came into contact with them three years ago and explained to them about the plight Muslims in Sierra Leone are going through and promised that they assist to remedy the situation which they did. Last year alone the Organization spent 1.3 Billion Leones in the country and now they have registered as an Islamic Humanitarian Charity Organization in Sierra Leone which is good news to us. This time now they have come to offer you the sum of 3.8 Billion Leones,” the well known Musa Tarawallie informed the Muslim audience who greeted his statement with a round of applause. He admonished them to use the money judiciously in order to further the cause of Islam
He stated that very soon the Ummah Welfare Trust will start to build more masjids (mosques), Islamic schools, will offer sponsorships to orphans and widows in order to ensure that these vulnerable people take their rightful places in society. He admonished the beneficiaries to make good use of the money.
Hon. Musa Tarawallie thanked President Bio and his Government for the warm welcome given to the organization and for conducting a successful 2018 Hajj pilgrimage which he stated shows that the Government is committed to address the problems Muslims are facing in the country.
He stated that his grandfather was one of those who took Islam to Moyamba District.
“West Africa Regional Coordinator of Ummah Welfare Trust is poised to provide financial assistance to Muslims all over the world. It was established in 2001 and inspired by the Islamic teachings of empathy, generosity and selflessness, the Trust aims to alleviate poverty and suffering across the world. It is providing emergency relief, such as food and medical aid, to victims of conflict and natural disasters,” he furthered.
Musa Tarawallie also stated that 5 Million Leones will be given to each of the beneficiaries and it will benefit all the Mosques within Moyamba District.
He stated that the money was given to the beneficiaries for their resilient efforts in upholding the values of Islam in the country.
The pragmatic philanthropist revealed that Ummah Welfare Trust will work across the four regions of Sierra Leone.
He applauded Sierra Leoneans for the interreligious unity that the country is enjoying,
He encouraged other non-Muslims to come forward and embrace Islam, because it a religion of peace and love.
The beneficiaries in jubilant moods prayed and showered blessings for Ummah Welfare Trust and Hon: Musa Tarawallie for what they described as a timely gesture openly stating that they have never received such a short gesture from any organization or individual.

As the campaign intensifies to get rid of Female Genital Mutilation the story a victim whipped sympathy in many quarter .Mary Oloiparuni was 13 when she was mutilated. Restrained in a doorway early one morning in her home, she was cut, bled profusely and experienced agonizing pain. The scarring she endured then continues to cause her pain today, 19 years later. It has made giving birth to each of her five children an excruciating and harrowing experience.
Mary is not alone. At least 200 million girls and women alive today have had their genitals mutilated – suffering one of the most inhuman acts of gender-based violence in the world.
On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, UNFPA reaffirms its commitment to end this violation of human rights, so that the tens of millions of girls who are still at risk of being mutilated by 2030 do not experience the same suffering as Mary.
It was maintained that this effort is especially critical because female genital mutilation leads to long-term physical, psychological and social consequences. It violates women’s rights to sexual and reproductive health, physical integrity, non-discrimination and freedom from cruel or degrading treatment. It is also a violation of medical ethics: Female genital mutilation is never safe, no matter who carries it out or how clean the venue is.
Because female genital mutilation is a form of gender-based violence, the Organization cannot address it in isolation from other forms of violence against women and girls, or other harmful practices such as early and forced marriages. To end female genital mutilation, UNFPA has to tackle the root causes of gender inequality and work for women’s social and economic empowerment.
In 2015, world leaders overwhelmingly backed the elimination of FGM as one of the targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This is an achievable goal, and all must act now to translate that political commitment into action.
At the national level there is need for new policies and legislation protecting the rights of girls and women to live free from violence and discrimination. Governments in countries where female genital mutilation is prevalent should also develop national action plans to end the practice. To be effective, plans must include budget lines dedicated to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health, education, social welfare and legal services.
At the regional level, there is also need for institutions and economic communities to work together, preventing the movement of girls and women across borders when the purpose is to get them into countries with less restrictive female genital mutilation laws.
Locally, religious leaders must strike down myths that female genital mutilation has a basis in religion. Because societal pressures often drive the practice, individuals and families need more information about the benefits of abandoning it.

Public pledges to abandon female genital mutilation – particularly pledges by entire communities – are an effective model of collective commitment. But public pledges must be paired with comprehensive strategies for challenging the social norms, practices and behaviours that condone female genital mutilation. Testimonials by survivors like Mary also help to build understanding of the practice’s grim reality and long-lasting impact on women’s lives. Advocacy campaigns and social media can amplify the message that ending female genital mutilation saves and improves lives.
As a result of the collective action of governments, civil society, communities and individuals, female genital mutilation is in decline. But the aim is not for fewer cases of this practice but insistence insisting on zero.