Gambia Faces Backlash Over Potential Reversal of Female Genital Mutilation Ban
Gambia, a small West African nation, is finding itself at the center of a heated debate as lawmakers prepare to vote on legislation that could potentially repeal the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). If the ban is lifted, Gambia would become the first country to reverse such a prohibition.
FGM, also known as female genital cutting, is a harmful practice that involves the partial or complete removal of external female genitalia. Often carried out by traditional practitioners using razor blades, FGM is believed to control a woman’s sexuality but can lead to serious health complications, including bleeding and death.
Safe Hands for Girls founder, Jaha Dukureh, who has been a vocal advocate against FGM, warns that repealing the ban could lead to the erosion of women’s rights laws. She speaks from personal experience, having undergone FGM herself.
The bill to lift the ban has garnered support from religious conservatives in Gambia, who argue that it upholds religious purity and cultural norms. However, local rights organizations and activists have vehemently opposed the move, citing the harm caused by FGM based on medical evidence.
Gambia had previously banned FGM in 2015 under former leader Yahya Jammeh, but enforcement of the law has been weak, with only two cases prosecuted. The potential reversal of the ban has sparked outrage among activists, both in Gambia and internationally.
UNICEF reports that 30 million women globally have undergone FGM in the past eight years, with more than 80 countries having laws either prohibiting or permitting prosecution of the practice. Officials emphasize that no religious text promotes or condones FGM and stress that there are no health benefits to the procedure, only long-term health risks for girls and women.
As the debate continues in Gambia, activists are working tirelessly to raise awareness about the dangers of FGM and to push for the protection of women’s rights.
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