Freetown, July 7, 2025 — The Parliament of Sierra Leone has issued a strong disclaimer, refuting widespread reports that the newly enacted Child Rights Act, 2025 includes penalties targeting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
In a statement released on Monday, Parliament emphasized that the new legislation “does not contain any provision imposing a fine, penalty, or punishment specifically addressing Female Genital Mutilation.”
This response follows claims circulated by Radio Democracy 98.1FM and other media outlets alleging that the Act criminalizes FGM and imposes a One Hundred Million Leones (NLe 100,000,000) fine on individuals found guilty of circumcising girls under the age of 18.
“These reports are factually incorrect and misleading,” Parliament clarified. “Contrary to what has been published, the law neither criminalises FGM nor prescribes any fine for such acts under its provisions.”
The statement urges media houses, civil society organizations, and the general public to verify all legislative matters directly with Parliament before sharing information that may cause public confusion.
“We call on all stakeholders to refer to the corrected version** of the enacted legislation or seek clarification from the Legislative Committee of Parliament,” the release added.
While reaffirming its dedication to child protection, Parliament underscored its responsibility to ensure that all reforms are communicated accurately, transparently, and in accordance with the law.
For more information, the public is advised to contact the Office of the Clerk of Parliament or the Department of Legislative Services at Tower Hill, Freetown.
