About thirty chairpersons of various communities from six of the 15 counties were recently trained in how to abolish some traditional practices, including female genital mutilation (FGM), administering of Sassywood (trial by ordeal) and those of body tattoos. The communities were selected from Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Nimba, River Gee and Maryland counties. Philip M. Kollie, head of a locally-based civil society organization called West Africa Network for Peace (WANEP), said the training was intended to eradicate some harmful traditional practices, as well as their side effects, on citizens. “Trial by ordeal is also one of the traditional practices that should be abolished, because taking an oath subjects you to things you personally wouldn’t want to do. The workshop was held under the theme “Engaging Traditional, Religious, Educational Institutions and Relevant Stakeholders in the Prevention and Response to SGBV and Harmful Traditional Practices.”

Source: Daily Observer March 30, 2018 04:18 UTC