A Crucial Victory for Girls’ and Women’s Rights: The Gambia Upholds Ban on Female Genital Mutilation

In a significant step forward for human rights, gender equality, and the well-being of girls and women, The Gambia’s National Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This decision is a testament to the country’s dedication to protecting the health and dignity of its citizens, particularly its female population.

FGM, a harmful practice that involves the cutting or removal of part or all of the external female genitalia, can cause severe physical and psychological damage, including infection, childbearing complications, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The practice is often carried out on infants and young girls, and its long-term effects can be devastating. The Gambia’s decision to maintain the ban on FGM is a crucial step towards eradicating this harmful practice and meeting the Sustainable Development Goal targets (5.3).

The country’s commitment to ending FGM is not new. The Women’s (Amendment) Act, 2015, was a significant milestone in the fight against gender-based violence and discrimination. This law was the result of years of advocacy, community engagement, and education aimed at ending FGM and promoting gender equality. The ban on FGM is also in line with The Gambia’s international and regional commitments to prevent harmful practices against girls and women, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the Maputo Protocol.

The decision to uphold the ban on FGM is a critical victory for the tireless efforts of survivors, activists, civil society organizations, and faith-based groups working to end FGM. These grassroots initiatives are essential in ending all forms of violence against girls and women and delivering a safer and healthier future for them.

However, the fight against FGM is far from over. In many countries, progress towards ending the practice has stalled or reversed due to pushback against girls’ and women’s rights, instability, and conflict. This is why legislative bans on FGM, while important, are not enough to end the practice. According to recent statistics, more than 73% of girls and women aged 15 to 49 in The Gambia have already undergone FGM, with many subjected to it before their fifth birthday.

To accelerate progress towards ending FGM, it is essential to continue advocating for gender equality, ending violence against girls and women, and securing the gains made so far. This requires engaging with communities and grassroots organizations, working with traditional, political, and religious leaders, training health workers, and raising awareness about the harms caused by FGM.

Supporting survivors of FGM is also crucial. Many survivors suffer from long-term physical and psychological harm and need comprehensive medical and psychological care to heal from the scars inflicted by this harmful practice.

The United Nations agencies, including UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UN Women, and UN Human Rights, commend The Gambia’s decision to uphold the ban on FGM and pledge to continue supporting the government, civil society, and communities in the fight against FGM. Together, we must work towards ensuring that all girls and women can live free from violence and harmful practices and that their rights, bodily integrity, and dignity are upheld.

About the Organizations:

• UNICEF: The United Nations Children’s Fund works to improve the lives of children worldwide, focusing on education, health, and protection.
• UNFPA: The United Nations Population Fund is the world’s largest international funder of reproductive health programs, working to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
• WHO: The World Health Organization is the world’s leading health authority, working to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.
• UN Women: The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women works to accelerate progress on meeting the needs of women and girls worldwide.
• UN Human Rights: The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is the leading UN entity on human rights, working to promote and protect the full range of human rights and freedoms.

Historical Context:

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has been a widespread practice in many African countries, including The Gambia, for centuries. The practice has been linked to various cultural and religious beliefs, and has been performed on millions of girls and women. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the harm caused by FGM, and many countries have banned the practice. The Gambia, in particular, has been a leader in the fight against FGM, with the country’s government and civil society organizations working together to end the practice.

In 2015, The Gambia passed the Women’s (Amendment) Act, which banned FGM and other forms of gender-based violence. The law was a significant milestone in the fight against FGM, and was the result of years of advocacy and community engagement. The country’s commitment to ending FGM is also reflected in its international and regional commitments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the Maputo Protocol.

The Gambia’s decision to uphold the ban on FGM is a crucial step forward in the fight against the practice. The country’s commitment to ending FGM is a testament to its dedication to protecting the health and dignity of its citizens, particularly its female population. The decision is also a critical victory for the tireless efforts of survivors, activists, civil society organizations, and faith-based groups working to end FGM.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• The Gambia’s National Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
• The ban on FGM is a crucial step towards eradicating the harmful practice and meeting the Sustainable Development Goal targets (5.3).
• The Gambia’s commitment to ending FGM is not new, with the country’s government and civil society organizations working together to end the practice.
• The country’s decision to uphold the ban on FGM is a critical victory for the tireless efforts of survivors, activists, civil society organizations, and faith-based groups working to end FGM.
• The fight against FGM is far from over, with progress towards ending the practice stalled or reversed in many countries due to pushback against girls’ and women’s rights, instability, and conflict.
• To accelerate progress towards ending FGM, it is essential to continue advocating for gender equality, ending violence against girls and women, and securing the gains made so far.
• Supporting survivors of FGM is also crucial, with many survivors suffering from long-term physical and psychological harm and needing comprehensive medical and psychological care to heal from the scars inflicted by this harmful practice.
• The United Nations agencies, including UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UN Women, and UN Human Rights, commend The Gambia’s decision to uphold the ban on FGM and pledge to continue supporting the government, civil society, and communities in the fight against FGM.