The Women’s (Amendment) Bill 2024, which had been introduced in The Gambia to decriminalize female genital mutilation (FGM), was recently rejected by lawmakers. The bill had initially passed a second reading in March with only five out of 53 lawmakers voting against it. However, after months of heated debate and international pressure, the majority of lawmakers voted against each of the bill’s four clauses before it could proceed to a third and final reading. This decision was met with table banging in the parliamentary chamber, indicating the strong emotions surrounding the issue.
The rejection of the bill means that the 2015 ban on FGM in The Gambia will remain in place. This ban made the practice punishable by up to three years in prison in an effort to protect the rights and health of women and girls. The World Health Organization has stated that FGM has no health benefits and can lead to serious health complications such as excessive bleeding, shock, and psychological problems. The Gambia is one of the countries with the highest rates of FGM, with 73 percent of women and girls aged 15 to 49 having undergone the procedure.
The bill to decriminalize FGM had deeply divided public opinion in The Gambia, a Muslim-majority country where the practice is seen as a deep-rooted cultural and religious tradition by some. However, anti-FGM campaigners and international rights groups have argued that the practice is a harmful violation against women and girls. The rejection of the bill was seen as a victory for those advocating for the protection of women’s rights and health, as it upheld the existing ban on FGM.
Female genital mutilation is a practice that involves the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia, leading to serious health issues such as infections, bleeding, infertility, and complications during childbirth. According to UNICEF, there are more than 230 million female survivors of FGM worldwide, highlighting the global scale of the issue. The decision to uphold the ban on FGM in The Gambia sends a strong message about the importance of protecting women’s rights and health, even in the face of cultural and religious traditions.
The rejection of the Women’s (Amendment) Bill 2024 in The Gambia has sparked conversations about the ongoing efforts to combat FGM and protect the rights of women and girls globally. The decision to maintain the ban on the practice has been praised by anti-FGM campaigners and international rights groups who see it as a significant step towards ending the harmful tradition. The intense debate and international pressure surrounding the bill have brought attention to the need for continued advocacy and awareness-raising to address the harmful effects of FGM and ensure the health and well-being of women and girls around the world.
As The Gambia grapples with the issue of FGM, the rejection of the bill highlights the importance of legislative measures in protecting women’s rights and promoting gender equality. The decision by lawmakers to uphold the ban on FGM reflects a commitment to prioritizing the health and well-being of women and girls, despite cultural and religious challenges. Moving forward, it will be essential for The Gambia and other countries to continue their efforts to prevent and eradicate FGM through education, advocacy, and legal protections, in order to create a world where all women and girls can live free from harm and discrimination.
