Monrovia- Amidst reports by the United Nations Children's Fund on the progress of female genital mutilation in Africa, the Action Against Female Genital Mutilation in Liberia (AFEGM/LIBERIA) crossly underrates and doubts any sincerity of the government of Liberia in putting an end to the prevalent practice of fgm/c in the country.

Victims of fgm/c in both urban and leeward Liberia are expected to increase as the rainy season continues. The Group reports that the closure of schools in the country and low farming activities are basis for ceremony performers to revive and conscript women and children. Nimba, Bong, Margibi, Lofa and Gbapolu counties as well as Todee in Montserrado County are still intolerant to fighting the practice.

The rights group maintains all three but coordinate branches of government have made 'zero effort' in averting serious human rights violations against women and children. According to the Group, women and children irrespective of their physical and mental condition still remain vulnerable in both leeward and urban communities where the ceremony is performed.

The refusal of government to pass on legislation which criminalizes the practice interprets how unserious and reluctant Liberia has become in support of the Maputu Protocol and other United Nations human rights mandate.

AFEGM/LIBERIA warns authorities of government to refrain from traditional belief as shield not to comply with UN mandate as many officials of government mostly from the Legislature feel threatened to act swiftly for fear of losing constituents support during elections.

According to the group, some media institutions are lagging behind with support to enhance advocacy for the abandonment of fgm/c in Liberia. With this, incidents of violations remain covered, as journalists as well as advocates feel scared and threatened in discussing traditional beliefs and practices. "Threats on the lives of advocates including journalists have lowered measures to fight the practice", and could even further undermine advocacy, the Group's Executive Director B. Clarence Farley observes.

UNICEF and Amnesty International need a more vigorous approach in compelling government to abide by all its international human rights obligations and at the same time give assurances to reduce threats on the lives of journalists and advocates.

Meanwhile, the rights group considers recent statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to modernize but not abolish the practice of fgm/c in Liberia, as unserious and the latest effort to further perpetuate more human rights abuses on women and children. The groups reveals that Liberia as signatory to the UN conventions is not under obligation to modernize such harmful procedure but to 'get rid' of the practice in its entirety.