Kabs Kanu, a former Minister Plenipotentiary and member of Sierra Leone's UN delegation, has alleged that Sierra Leone is violating a 2012 United Nations resolution banning Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Kanu stated, "AS MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY , I WAS A MEMBER OF THE SIERRA LEONE UN DELEGATION THAT JOINED UN MEMBER STATES TO APPROVE RESOLUTION BANNING FGM IN 2012." He cited a public statement from Sierra Leone's Parliament regarding the Child Rights Act 2025 as evidence. "SIERRA LEONE’S PARLIAMENT TODAY RELEASED A PUBLIC STATEMENT TO SAY THAT THE CHILD RIGHTS ACT 2025 DOES NOT PROTECT EVEN GIRLS UNDER 18 FROM FGM," Kanu said, adding, "MEANING THAT FGM IS LEGAL FOR ALL AGES OF CHILDREN IN SIERRA LEONE." He noted that on December 12, 2012, the UN General Assembly "unanimously passed a resolution banning the practice of Female Genital Mutilation," a measure approved by 194 UN Member States. Kanu concluded, "The statement made by Parliament today shows that Sierra Leone is in violation of the very UN resolutions our country helped approve in the UN in 2012."
Author's 2012 UN Role
Kabs Kanu, a former Minister Plenipotentiary and member of Sierra Leone's UN delegation, stated he was part of the delegation that helped approve the 2012 United Nations resolution against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Kanu specifically recalled that on December 12, 2012, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously passed a resolution banning the practice of Female Genital Mutilation. This resolution was approved by 194 UN Member States, including Sierra Leone. Kanu's involvement in this process shows his assertion that Sierra Leone is now in violation of a resolution it previously supported. He noted the parliamentary statement regarding the Child Rights Act 2025 as evidence of this alleged non-compliance.
Parliamentary Statement Contradiction
Sierra Leone's Parliament issued a public statement clarifying the scope of the Child Rights Act 2025. The parliamentary declaration indicated that the Act does not provide protection for girls under the age of 18 against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This statement, according to Kabs Kanu, a former Minister Plenipotentiary, suggests that FGM is considered legal for all children in Sierra Leone, regardless of their age. Kanu previously served as a member of Sierra Leone's UN delegation, which participated in the approval of a United Nations resolution banning FGM in 2012. His allegations center on this parliamentary statement, which he views as a contradiction to Sierra Leone's commitments to the 2012 UN resolution.
Alleged Violation of Commitments
Kabs Kanu, a former Minister Plenipotentiary and member of Sierra Leone's UN delegation, asserts that Sierra Leone is in violation of the United Nations resolutions it helped approve in 2012. His claim is based on a public statement issued by Sierra Leone's Parliament regarding the Child Rights Act 2025. Kanu has previously noted that on December 12, 2012, the UN General Assembly unanimously passed a resolution banning Female Genital Mutilation, a measure supported by 194 UN Member States, including Sierra Leone. The parliamentary statement indicated that the Child Rights Act 2025 does not protect girls under 18 from FGM, which Kanu interprets as legalizing FGM for all children in the country. This stance, according to Kanu, directly contradicts the international commitments Sierra Leone made by co-approving the UN resolution against FGM.
Broader Implications for Women's Rights
The UN General Assembly approved five General Assembly resolutions aimed at advancing women's rights, including a resolution specifically focused on intensifying global efforts to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM). These resolutions show the international community's commitment to protecting women and girls.
