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Gambia Faces Backlash Over Proposed Reversal of Female Genital Mutilation Ban

In a controversial move that has sparked outrage, the Gambian government is considering overturning a groundbreaking 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). This proposed law, known as the Women’s (Amendment) Bill 2024, has raised concerns about the future of women’s and girls’ rights in the country.

Female genital mutilation, a practice that involves the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia for non-medical reasons, has long-lasting physical, psychological, and emotional consequences. It is also a serious public health issue that can lead to complications during childbirth, including maternal and infant mortality.

Despite efforts to combat FGM in Gambia, with a ban in place since 2015 and a national strategy to end the practice by 2030, the proposed reversal of the ban threatens to undermine the progress made in protecting girls and women from this harmful practice.

Traditional practitioners, often women, perform most cases of FGM in Gambia, leading to deaths and long-term health issues. While some may argue for the medicalization of FGM, the World Health Organization has stated that there is no medical justification for the practice.

The international community has committed to eliminating all harmful practices, including FGM, by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality. With Gambia’s current trends in FGM, lifting the ban could result in a resurgence of the practice, putting the lives and well-being of Gambian girls and women at risk.

Human Rights Watch has called on the Gambian government to prioritize the protection of girls’ and women’s rights and to reject any proposal to reverse the FGM ban. They have urged for comprehensive education and awareness programs to be implemented, along with survivor-responsive support services.

It is crucial for the international community to support efforts to uphold the FGM ban in Gambia and to work towards ending this harmful practice once and for all. The rights of Gambian girls and women must be fiercely protected, and legislative efforts to lift the ban should be discouraged.

By standing against the proposed reversal of the FGM ban, the Gambian government can demonstrate its commitment to the well-being and rights of its female population. It is time to take concrete steps towards ending the harmful practice of FGM and ensuring a safer future for all girls and women in Gambia.