Lawmakers in Gambia have rejected a bill aimed at overturning the ban on female genital cutting, preserving the prohibition in the West African nation. This decision, which would have made Gambia the first country to reverse such a ban, followed intense debate and activism, particularly concerning the health risks and human rights implications of the practice.
Female genital cutting, also known as female genital mutilation, involves the partial or complete removal of girls’ external genitalia, often performed by traditional practitioners using tools like razor blades. Despite its health risks, including severe bleeding and childbirth complications, the practice persists in some parts of Africa.
Activists and human rights groups expressed relief after the bill was rejected, emphasizing that reversing the ban would undermine years of efforts to eradicate the centuries-old practice. The campaigners against the ban argued that the practice was rooted in misconceptions about sexual purity and control, citing religious reasons.
Absa Samba, an activist and survivor, expressed relief and emphasized the need for ongoing efforts to protect girls from the harmful practice. Another activist, Fatou Baldeh, highlighted the emotional toll and questioned why survivors had to endure renewed trauma during the debate over the bill.
Despite the ban imposed in 2015 by former President Yahya Jammeh, enforcement has been weak, leading to continued instances of female genital cutting in Gambia. Activists called for improved public education on the health consequences of the practice to further deter its continuation.
Globally, an estimated 30 million women have undergone female genital cutting in recent years, predominantly in Africa, but also in Asia and the Middle East. Over 80 countries have laws against the practice or allow prosecution for it, underscoring international efforts to protect women and girls from this harmful tradition.
The UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) has emphasized that no religious text supports or condones female genital mutilation, highlighting its lack of benefit and numerous health risks, including long-term complications such as urinary infections, menstrual issues, and psychological trauma.