Lawmakers in Gambia are set to vote on a proposal to repeal the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), despite efforts to curb the practice, which has seen an increase in recent years.
Introduced in 2015, the ban in the small West African nation imposed severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for those involved in FGM. The World Health Organization has highlighted the severe health risks associated with the practice, including excessive bleeding, shock, psychological trauma, and even death.
Almameh Gibba, a lawmaker, put forward the repeal bill, arguing that the ban infringes on citizens’ rights to uphold their cultural and religious practices, especially in Gambia, where Islam is predominant.
According to a recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the global number of women and girls subjected to FGM has risen from 200 million to 230 million over the past eight years. While over half of the 92 countries where FGM is practiced have laws against it, activists stress the importance of legal measures in combating the practice.
Despite a significant decline in FGM prevalence following the ban’s implementation in Gambia, activists fear that reversing the law could undermine progress and embolden pro-FGM sentiments in other countries.
The ban, instated during the rule of former president Yahya Jammeh, has faced opposition in Gambia, particularly since President Adama Barrow assumed office in 2017. Last August, three women became the first to be fined under the law for performing FGM on eight infant girls, sparking controversy.
While some members of parliament support the repeal bill, others oppose it, and President Barrow has yet to publicly address the issue.
Anti-FGM campaigner Jaha Dukureh expressed confidence that the bill would be rejected but stressed the ongoing challenges faced by activists and communities in eradicating the practice due to insufficient support.
