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Summary
Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has announced a permanent ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other harmful practices, pledging zero tolerance for gender-based violence. He also unveiled an $8.3 billion five-year plan aimed at empowering women and youth and promoting inclusive development across the country.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of Liberia has announced a permanent ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other harmful traditional practices, pledging zero tolerance for gender-based violence.
The announcement was made on September 22, 2025, during the 30th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in New York, also known as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Speaking at the event, President Boakai declared that temporary moratoriums on harmful practices would now become national law.
“What was once a three-year moratorium will now become national law,” he said. “We pledge zero tolerance for gender-based violence, backed by public education campaigns, awareness programs, and dedicated budget allocations.”
Previous governments had imposed temporary bans, but inconsistent enforcement left women and girls still at risk. This development positions Liberia as one of the few African nations to codify permanent protections for women and girls.
In addition to banning FGM, President Boakai unveiled an ambitious US$8.3 billion Agenda for Inclusive Development. The five-year plan focuses on education, health care, social services, and economic empowerment. It prioritises young people, especially girls, and aims to close long-standing gaps in opportunity and equality.
Flagship programs under the agenda include the Liberia Women Empowerment Project, which supports 36,000 women entrepreneurs nationwide and benefits over 260,000 people, and the REALISE Project, which provides tools and resources to 3,600 vulnerable households to support sustainable livelihoods.
“As an African proverb says, ‘When spider webs unite, they can tie a lion,’” Boakai said. “Similarly, when women are fully empowered and supported, entire nations triumph.”
He also urged other nations to follow Liberia’s example by investing in women’s rights and passing legislation to protect vulnerable groups.
The National Coalition against Harmful Practices (NACAHP) praised President Boakai’s announcement, calling it a “bold and historic” pledge to permanently ban harmful cultural practices, including FGM, in Liberia.
