Almaneh Gibba, a lawmaker in The Gambia, has initiated efforts to reverse a ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) imposed in 2015. This move follows the country’s first convictions and fines for FGM offenders last year, albeit with concerns about the leniency of the penalties.
While activists celebrated these convictions as a rare triumph against the prevailing impunity surrounding FGM, they also sparked opposition from religious leaders and fueled Gibba’s campaign to repeal the ban.
Gibba’s proposed bill has stirred alarm among advocacy groups, who argue that it signifies a regression in combating a practice linked to numerous health risks. Despite calls from civil society organizations and former government officials urging the upholding of the anti-FGM law, Gibba remains adamant, dismissing Western influence and asserting the cultural and religious significance attached to FGM in Gambia.
With parliament currently deliberating Gibba’s bill, rights groups emphasize the disparity between his stance and the lived experiences of excised women, along with the global consensus branding FGM as a grave human rights violation.
Statistics reveal the prevalence of FGM in Gambia, with a significant proportion of women supporting its discontinuation. However, concerns persist that the proposed legislation could bolster a nascent pro-FGM movement across Africa, challenging existing legal frameworks aimed at eradicating the practice.
While FGM is banned in over 70 countries worldwide, enforcement remains inconsistent, underscoring the ongoing struggle against this deeply entrenched cultural phenomenon.
