Gambia: Continued Ban On FGM Is Good News but Authorities Must Urgently Address Its Root Causes

Luis Tato/UNFPA
A blade used to perform female genital mutilation.
15 July 2024
Amnesty International (London)

Reacting to the rejection of a bill to repeal the 2015 Women's (Amendment) Act which bans female genital mutilation (FGM), by Gambia's parliament on 15 July, Samira Daoud, Amnesty International Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said:

"We welcome with great relief the rejection of the bill aimed at reversing the ban on FGM in Gambia. In 2015, the adoption of the Women's (Amendment) Act, which criminalizes and sets out punishments for performing, aiding and abetting the practice of FGM, represented a significant milestone in the country's efforts to safeguard girls' and women's rights. It was essential that this progress was protected.

This attempt to repeal the law is a warning sign.Samira Daoud, Amnesty International Regional Director for West and Central Africa

"However, since being outlawed in 2015, only two cases have been prosecuted and the first conviction for performing FGM was only made in August last year. Moreover, this attempt to repeal the law is a warning sign demonstrating that steps must be taken to make the population more aware of women's rights and the need to eradicate such harmful practices. Due diligence requires effective prevention, protection and reparation, not just criminalization.

"In addition to banning FGM, the Gambian authorities must do more to enforce the law. We also urge the adoption of a holistic approach that addresses the root causes of the issue to change attitudes and norms in order to empower women and girls."

Background

Around 76% of girls and women between 15 and 49 years of age have undergone FGM in Gambia, according to UNICEF, and 3 out of 4 girls experience it before age 6.

Gambia is a signatory to international conventions that uphold and protect the rights of women and girls, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child specifically states that Governments must take all appropriate measures to eliminate harmful social and cultural practices, including FGM.

Read the original article on AI London.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2024 Amnesty International. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.