Gambian members of parliament on Monday adopted recommendations to maintain the country’s ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) ahead of a vote later this month on whether to decriminalize the practice.
FGM has been outlawed in The Gambia since 2015, but the deeply ingrained cultural practice remains prevalent. The first convictions under the law last year triggered a backlash, intensifying the debate over its legality.
Following a heated debate, the joint health and gender committee’s report was adopted by the full house, with 35 lawmakers voting in favor, 17 against, and two abstentions.
The final vote on the bill to decriminalize FGM is scheduled for July 24. If approved, The Gambia would become the first country to reverse a ban on FGM.
The bill passed its second reading in March with only five out of 53 lawmakers opposing and one abstaining.
Subsequently, the joint committee conducted a national public consultation, engaging religious and traditional leaders, doctors, victims, civil society groups, and circumcisers.
The first FGM conviction last August involved three women found guilty of cutting eight infant girls, sparking outrage and prompting independent lawmaker Almaneh Gibba to introduce the repeal bill in March. Gibba and his supporters, including influential religious leaders, argue that the ban infringes on citizens’ rights to practice their culture and religion in the predominantly Muslim country. However, many Islamic scholars dispute this claim.
As the final vote approaches, the debate over FGM continues to highlight the tension between cultural practices and human rights in The Gambia.
Report by Sang Donald Mendy
