Gambian lawmakers voted to uphold a 2015 ban on female genital mutilation, rejecting the controversial bill seeking to overturn the law after months of heated debate and international pressure.
The ban, in place since 2015, saw a significant decrease in FGM prevalence in Gambia, but proponents of the reversal argue genital cutting upholds religious and cultural values. Rights groups and the United Nations had urged MPs to reject the bill, saying it threatened years of progress and would have seen Gambia become the first country to overturn a ban on the genital cutting of girls and women.
FGM involves the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs and can lead to serious health problems including infections, bleeding, infertility, and complications in childbirth. Gambia is among the 10 countries with the highest rates of FGM, with 73% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 having undergone the procedure, according to 2024 figures from UNICEF.
Gambian lawmakers voted to advance to the next parliamentary stage a bill to reverse the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), sparking concerns among activists … Read more »
Although the World Health Organisation has continuously warned of the serious health risks associated with FGM, many countries have struggled to end the practice. The Gambian … Read more »
A blade used to perform female genital mutilation.
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