A June 2008 Sierra Leone country report by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child highlighted the recently promulgated Child Rights Act. The Act “prohibits harmful traditional practices such as early/forced marriage, forced initiation, child betrothal” and any other traditional practice that harms a child physically, mentally, or emotionally. From “Concluding Observations: Sierra Leone,” Committee on the Rights of the Child, 13 (CRC/C/SLE/CO/2) (20 June 2008). The Committee was concerned, however, that female genital mutilation (FGM) was not one of the acts expressly outlawed. The Committee made several recommendations to the State and to civil society. First, the Committee recommended that Sierra Leone implement legislation that outlaws actions that harm children physically, mentally, or emotionally, including FGM. Second, the Committee recommended raising awareness in various sectors of traditional practices that harm children. Third, the Committee recommended helping FGM providers to find other sources of income if they give up the practice. Fourth, they recommended eradicating FGM and other measures that impair children’s health. Finally, the Committee asked for monitoring the harmful practices to ensure children’s well-being.
Compiled from: “Concluding Observations: Sierra Leone,” Committee on the Rights of the Child, 13 (CRC/C/SLE/CO/2) (20 June 2008). (PDF, 20 pages).