Gambia's Parliament Upholds Ban on Female Genital Mutilation

In Summary

• Gambia's parliament rejected a bill to overturn the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), maintaining the prohibition on the practice.
• The bill sparked significant public debate and was ultimately voted down after testimonies from doctors and survivors highlighted FGM's harmful effects.
• The rejection demonstrates Gambia's commitment to international human rights obligations, despite concerns about the enforcement of the existing ban.

Banjul, Gambia - In a decisive move, Gambia's parliament on Monday rejected a bill that sought to overturn the country's ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). The Ministry of Information affirmed that the ban on FGM remains firmly in place, reflecting the government's resolve to eliminate the harmful practice.

The bill, introduced by lawmaker Almaneh Gibba, sparked the first public debate on FGM in the West African nation, dividing communities and prompting extensive discussions in parliament. Gibba argued for the bill on cultural and religious grounds in the Muslim-majority country where FGM is widespread. However, many Islamic scholars and rights advocates opposed his arguments.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has consistently stated that FGM has no health benefits and can cause severe physical and psychological harm. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with high-level United Nations representatives, praised Gambia's decision, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding progress against FGM globally.

"The fragility of progress to end FGM cannot be overstated. Assaults on women's and girls' rights in countries around the globe have meant that hard-won gains are in danger of being lost," their joint statement read.

Despite initial support, with the bill passing a second reading in March by a narrow margin, public hearings and testimonies from doctors and survivors influenced parliament's final stance. On July 8, the health and gender affairs committees recommended maintaining the ban, leading to a vote where lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected the bill, 35 to 17, with two abstentions.

The decision halted the bill's progress, with Parliament Speaker Fabakary Tombong Jatta declaring the legislative process exhausted. "The (National) Assembly cannot be engaged in such a futile exercise as to allow the bill to proceed to a third reading," Jatta stated.

Anti-FGM activist Fatou Baldeh, who experienced FGM at age eight, expressed mixed feelings. "I am relieved, but also disappointed that the bill was considered in the first place. I am not celebrating for the fact that our women and girls' lives were put on the line," Baldeh said.

Gambian legal scholar Satang Nabaneh viewed the bill's rejection as a commitment to international human rights obligations. "We are hoping that this is a clear call for implementation of anti-FGM laws," she added, addressing concerns about the enforcement of the 2015 law banning FGM.

The first and only conviction under the 2015 ban occurred in 2023, involving three women found guilty of cutting eight infant girls. This case prompted Gibba to propose the repeal bill, which has now been decisively rejected by parliament.

As Gambia continues to grapple with the issue of FGM, the rejection of the bill serves as a reaffirmation of the country's dedication to protecting the rights and health of women and girls.