By Sulaiman Jalloh

Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM), on Monday, June 9, 2025 trained Parliamentary Press Gallery journalists on Modernization of Bondo Culture [Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)]. Madam Rugiatu Neneh Turay, Director and founder of the Amazonian Initiative Movement in her presentation said the motive for the training was because parliamentary journalists interact directly with Law makers and the House of Legislature has been discussing about Female Genital Mutilation and yet, nothing has been done.

According to madam Turay, organizations that campaign against FGM work to complement government at the same time hold them accountable while referencing the MAPUTU protocell which was passed by the Parliament of Sierra Leone emphasizing the importance of the media information dissemination. “Organizations that are working to end FGM are not doing it because of influence from Western culture. We are doing it because we survive it” Turay stated.

During the training workshop airy of things were discussed including social, cultural, religious and phycological impacts of Female Genital Mutilation among others. The training was aimed at capacitating newspaper on FGM and gender reporting.

The director informed pressmen that they are not against FGM totally but they want to build on human rights and protection of Women and girls, saying as Non-Governmental Organization they have responsibility of reminding government about various conventions signed by the county thus triggered then to trained the media something she said the media would them amplify the messages. “We’ve been to communities; we’ve worked over the years to make people understand that we are not against tradition, but yet still it is not enough” she narrated while calling on journalists to help amplify the messages

Amazonian Initiative Movement is an NGO that seeks to promote and protect the rights of women and girl through education, advocacy and capacity-building and to nurture generations that would be self-reliant who can challenge and issues affecting then while growing up in a violence free society. Journalists were giving the chance to chat the way forward and to proffer means to expand the work of advocacy groups in the country.

Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Wednesday, June 11TH, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)