Lawmakers in the West African nation voted on Monday to reject a bill that would overturn a 2015 law against the harmful practice, which involves the partial or total removal of female genitalia.
FGM is mainly performed on newborn babies and young girls. It can cause serious immediate and long-term physical and psychological damage, including infection, complications in later childbirth, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Commitment to rights and benefits
“Following today’s vote by the Gambian Parliament, we welcome the country’s decision to uphold the ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), reaffirms its commitment to human rights, gender equality and the protection of the health and well-being of girls and women“United Nations officials said in a Joint Statement.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting the government, civil society and communities in The Gambia in the fight against female genital mutilation.”
The statement was made by Catherine Russell, Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (United Nations Population Fund); Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO); Sima Bahous, CEO United Nations Womenand Volker Türk. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Amina Mohammed also welcomed the decision in a post on social media.
‘Parliament has spoken’: UN Deputy Secretary-General
“A great achievement for Gambia for their women and girls. Congress spoke up for their rights by upholding the ban on female genital mutilation,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, Najat Maalla M’jid, also took to the stage to Welcome this “important decision”.
The statement by the five officials said maintaining the ban on female genital mutilation was consistent with Gambia’s international and regional commitments to prevent harmful practices against girls and women.
Praise grassroots efforts
They also commended the tireless efforts of survivors, activists, civil society organizations and religious groups working to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM).
“Maintaining the ban supports these grassroots initiatives, which are pivotal in ending all forms of violence.including harmful practices against girls and women and to create a safer and healthier future for girls and women in The Gambia and elsewhere,” they said.
They stressed that the fragility of progress in ending female genital mutilation cannot be overstated as attacks on the rights of women and girls in many countries around the world threaten hard-won gains.
“In some countries, progress has stalled or been reversed due to opposition to the rights of girls and women, instability and conflict, and disruptions to prevention services and programmes,” they note.
While a legal ban is “an important foundation for interventions”, UN officials remain adamant that a ban alone cannot end FGM. They say more than 73 percent of girls and women aged 15 to 49 in Gambia have undergone this practicemany children under five years old.
‘We don’t get any rest’
The statement added that recent months have highlighted the need to continue advocating for gender equality, ending violence against girls and women, and securing gains to accelerate progress toward ending female genital mutilation.
“It also highlights the importance of engaging with communities and grassroots organisations, working with traditional, political and religious leaders, training health workers and effectively raising awareness of the harm caused by this practice,” they said.
They stressed that supporting survivors “remains as urgent as ever,” noting that Many people suffer long-term physical and psychological damage. may result from this process and require comprehensive medical and psychological care to heal.
Stressing their commitment to supporting the Government, civil society and communities in The Gambia, the officials said “together, we must not rest until we ensure that all girls and women can live free from violence and harmful practices, and that their rights, bodily integrity and dignity are protected.
