In a significant victory for women and girls in The Gambia, lawmakers upheld the 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) on Monday, July 15. Despite months of heated debate and international pressure, legislators rejected a controversial bill seeking to overturn the law by voting against proposed amendments that would have decriminalized the practice.
The bill, introduced by MP Almameh Gibba, aimed to legalize what it termed as “female circumcision” as a cultural and religious practice. However, rights groups and the United Nations argued that FGM is a harmful violation against women and girls, leading to serious health issues such as infections, bleeding, infertility, and complications in childbirth.
The Gambia, with 73 percent of women and girls aged 15 to 49 having undergone FGM, is one of the countries with the highest rates of the practice. Despite the ban in 2015, convictions for performing FGM only occurred last year, highlighting the ongoing battle to eradicate the harmful procedure.
Sets an example
Women’s rights NGOs, including Equality Now and Amnesty International, welcomed the decision to uphold the ban as a crucial step towards safeguarding girls’ and women’s rights. The vote reflects The Gambia’s commitment to gender equality and serves as an example for the region and continent.
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