She was born in the small city of Lunsar, in the northwestern region of Sierra Leone. At a young age, she was subjected to female genital mutilation, suffering both physical and emotional scars. This personal experience had a profound impact on her and prompted her to gain a better understanding on the devastating impact of female genital mutilation, and to undertake steadfast advocacy to bring about change.
She was the first member of her community who publicly stood against female genital mutilation. As this practice was a form of livelihood for women, all by herself she persuaded 400 women in her community to discontinue this practice. She created alternative means of income for these women. She advocated that the traditional rituals of the Bondo community should not be associated with female genital mutilation. She defended this ritual as a space for exchange of experience and empowerment for women. She emphasised that alternative rite of passage is possible without denying the tradition.
At a time when female genital mutilation was not a priority issue for politicians and majority of civil society organisations in Sierra Leone, and was not seen as a harmful practice for women’s and girl’s life, in an effort to combat the practice, she founded the “Amazonian Initiative Movement” (AIM) in 2000. The organisation’s primary goal is to raise awareness about the harms of female genital mutilation, affecting more than 90% of women and girls in Sierra Leone, and to eliminate the practice altogether. By conducting fieldwork, she strives to reach out to rural areas and communities where the practice is most prevalent, and forms local women’s groups and networks. She organises training activities in cooperation with local and international organisations.
Thanks to her struggle, she has succeeded in shifting the perceptions in her community to a great extent, and empowered women to stand against this harmful practice. She has become a leading figure in combatting female genital mutilation, and has been widely recognised by numerous awards.
Her resolve in combatting female genital mutilation has raised a far-reaching awareness not only in Sierra Leone, but across Africa and even around the globe. The “Bloodless Rite of Passage” she led in 2019, was adopted by the “Forum Against Harmful Practices” as well as numerous organisations and institutions.
Kindly permit me to proceed on existing protocols. I bring you greetings from Sierra Leone, a land that is rich with minerals but 74% of the population lives in abject poverty. A country with fertile land but cannot feed its citizens. A country whose political leaders have ignored addressing human rights with sincerity for the protection of its citizens that made up of 52% of the country’s population.
I feel honoured and humble to stand in front of you this afternoon to accept the international award of Hrant Dink Foundation. I first received a message from Zeynep Sungur through twitter on the July 26th at about 6:27pm Sierra Leone time requesting for my email address, I was skeptical, shocked, and doubtful. I responded to her with questions. However, I later shared my email. On Saturday July 27th, I received an email informing me about a decision reached by a jury that I have been selected for the 2024 International Hrant Dink Award as a recognition of my work in protecting women and girls from and campaigning against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and promoting women in leadership and governance.
My journey against this harmful practice started barely 10 days after my mum passed on while still going to school. My step mum and aunt announced to us ( me and my sisters) that the day to complete our womanhood is here. This was very early in the morning of July, 15th, 1985. I was so excited at first because the details were not disclosed to me. We were blind folded, and led to the dark room one after the other. The experience in that dark room has left an untold suffering and grief on me up to this moment. My clitoris was cut off in the most crude manner amidst great struggles in the presence of relatives who claimed to love me dearly and are representation of my mother who just passed away. I felt betrayed, abused and molested to say the least. Pain, great pain exploded in my entire system leaving me in confusion, regret, hate and desire to revenge the wicked meted on my soul on that fateful day.
As I grew older, my heart yawned for change and transformation to stop the crude and barbaric practice that dehumanizes women and girls in the name of culture.
Moving forward and with the fervent determination of changing the narrative of the cultural practices in my country, I came to understand that if I am able to stand against traditionally recognized and accepted violence, I will be addressing all other violence committed against women and girls.
In 2000, I formed the Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM) to address the most controversial issue in our country. Sierra Leone is one of the few countries that has not outlawed FGM. It is considered a vote winner therefore both past and present governments have failed to address it. FGM as a harmful practice was never discussed in political circle, which led me to venture into politics in 2007. As a Councilor, I brought the discussions to end FGM into politics and governance structures and system.
Like Hrant Dink, my family and I were attacked several times. On two occasions, proponents of violence sent thugs, they broke into my house took away all my belongings. Just one of the price I paid for standing in the way of tradition. Fortunately, in all of those two attacks I was not at home. I was saved only because of my absence. I could have been dead.
The male secret society (poro) attacked me physically several times. There was nobody to protect me, not even the police as the state institution responsible for the protection of lives and properties. I was exiled from my community by my Paramount Chief. In all of these, I stood my ground never to give up nor run away.
I am convinced that you can only make a change when you are within. I challenged myself to remain strong, steadfast, focused, committed and determined never to back down.
My family, AIM staff and few friends stood by me as I continued with my outreach activities in different communities, schools, religious house and political fora with the word of change to end violence especially FGM. I have shared my experience and encouraged other women to do likewise.
Knowing my community and people, I introduced holistic approach to address both FGM and encourage women to get involved in politics to make sure they are part of the decision making and leadership of their communities, district and country. Women numbers started increasing and their voices heard after several workshops and engagement.
As a way to prove that AIM respects tradition and culture, the bloodless rite was introduced in 2019. This innovation showcases to the country and the world that we can hold up both tradition and human rights at the same time.
Together with my organization, we have also suggested the removal of shrines to construct schools as a way of addressing the high illiteracy rate amongst women and girls. We can only fight and win as an activist when we continue to empower communities. The people we are fighting for need to know why we are fighting. They need to understand the issues we are trying to correct. They need to understand how discrimination, gender inequality, illiteracy and poverty has demoralized and dehumanized generations. They need to be ready to die with us if not physical but emotionally and morally.
The formation of this foundation in remembrance of Hrant Dink, a human rights activist and a journalist who worked tirelessly to promote a world free of violence regardless of your gender, religion, culture, race is a clear manifestation to the cowards who killed him, confirming that you can kill the body but not the good work. His work while alive has challenged and motivated every one of you in this room. Today, you are using his work to identify people out of your country doing similar work, sacrificing their lives to make the world a better place. People who want to see equality, promote human rights and justice to recognize and celebrate with them.
With small funding my organization is receiving, we have achieved more than international organizations that receive substantial funding. This is because as a local organization led by a survivor and local woman who do not only understand the language but also part of the culture and the people. I want to ask the audience in this room to support my work when I shall have returned. We still have a lot of communities and people to reach. Establishing a radio station and newspaper is my next target to continue to amplify our work and reach hard to go areas through the airwaves. Yes, the media is a powerful tool that can make and unmake people.
I want to thank my father, staff, husband and close friends who without I would not be standing here today. I appreciate our beneficiaries and members of our communities with who I have worked for over 25 years. It’s is an honour to be working alongside them and sharing their lives.
With honour and pride, I accept this award and dedicate it to the women of Port Loko and Tonkolili districts, my family, staff, my late mother, my childhood friend and my husband who are my giants. I have won several international awards, but this holds a special place in my heart because of the history and context behind this recognition.
As Hrant Dink was well aware, it is not always easy to be brave and to keep talking about rights issues that our societies would prefer to ignore or to bury. It can feel very lonely. But from these vital conversations and through ongoing dialogue we can move to awareness - which leads to societal change which benefits all. Hrant Dink’s contribution will not be forgotten, and I am proud to receive this honour which bears his name.
Thank you.