Historic Justice for Women and Girls: ECOWAS Court Rules Against Sierra Leone on FGM/C
The Men’s Association for Gender Equality – Sierra Leone (MAGE-SL) welcomes the landmark ruling of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, which has held the Government of Sierra Leone accountable for failing to protect women and girls from Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C).
This historic decision marks a turning point for women’s rights and human dignity in Sierra Leone and across West Africa. For years, civil society organisations, survivors, and advocates have called for legal protection from this harmful practice. Today, that call has been answered through regional justice.
A Decade-Long Struggle for Change
For more than a decade, MAGE-SL has worked alongside communities, survivors, and national and international partners to raise awareness about the dangers of FGM/C and to advocate for a comprehensive legal ban.
Through our initiatives on gender equality, human rights, and transformative masculinity, we have engaged men, women, and traditional leaders in open dialogue to challenge the cultural acceptance of FGM/C and promote safer, more equitable practices.
The ECOWAS Court’s ruling validates years of grassroots advocacy and the relentless efforts of organisations and individuals who have refused to stay silent in the face of injustice.
Turning Judgment into Action
While the ruling represents a major legal victory, it also calls for immediate implementation and accountability. MAGE-SL urges the Government of Sierra Leone to act swiftly by:
Enacting national legislation criminalising FGM/C;
Strengthening protection mechanisms for survivors and girls at risk; and
Supporting community-based education and alternative rites of passage that uphold dignity and cultural identity without harm.
As MAGE-SL Executive members often emphasise, laws alone are not enough—change must reach the household and community level. Only through continuous engagement, education, and empowerment can this ruling translate into lasting transformation.
A Victory for Every Woman and Girl
This achievement belongs to all those who have campaigned, educated, and spoken out—from rural villages to national platforms. It is a victory for survivors who turned their pain into purpose, for activists who persisted against resistance, and for communities that are choosing change over silence.
At MAGE-SL, we remain committed to ensuring that this ruling becomes a catalyst for genuine progress—for a Sierra Leone where every woman and girl can live free from violence, coercion, and discrimination.
Moving Forward
MAGE-SL extends its gratitude to all allies, partners, and networks—especially those within the MenEngage Alliance and Civil Peace Service (CPS)—who have stood beside us in this long struggle. Together, we will continue to advocate for legal reform, support survivors, and build a future grounded in equality, justice, and respect for human rights.
The ECOWAS Court has spoken. Now, Sierra Leone must act.
Read the official press release of our partner SONKE Gender Justice here.
