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Female genital mutilation in the Gambia is the practice of removing all or part of the female's genitalia for cultural reasons, believed by those who practice it to affect sexual purity and obedience and required before marriage in some communities. The Gambia is one of 28 countries in Africa where female genital mutilation (FGM) is known to be practiced.

Prevalence

Beginning in 2010, household surveys asked women about the FGM status of all their living daughters. Gambia had the highest prevalence of female genital mutilation among girls aged 0–14. (56 percent)

Activism

The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children campaigns against the practice. Human rights experts and lawyers commented on the plans to revoke the 2015 bill, saying it would undo decades of work to end the practice. The UN urged the Gambia not to decriminalise the practice.

Legality

In 2015, the Gambia banned female genital mutilation. As of 2024, someone who is convicted of performing the practice could be given a fine of 50,000 dalasi (about 622 GBP or 735 USD) and/or up to three years in prison.

In 2023, the conviction of three women for performing the practice led to debates in the country about the ban. Members of the National Assembly of the Gambia backed a proposal to repeal the law. At the same time, the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council published a fatwa that requested the government to reconsider the 2015 ban while condemning anyone who criticizes female genital mutilation.

In 2024, 42 out of 47 members of the Gambia National Assembly voted in favor of sending a bill to a committee for review. This bill would overturn the 2015 ban.

References

1. ^ Maclean, Ruth (2024-03-18). "Gambia Moves Toward Overturning Landmark Ban on Female Genital Cutting". The New York Times.
2. ^ Johnson, Sarah (2023-10-11). "FGM ban in the Gambia under threat as calls grow to repeal law". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
3. Bitong, Liliane (November 2005). "Fighting Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 83 (11): 801–880. PMC 2626459. PMID 16302032.
4. Yoder, Wang & Johansen 2013, 194 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYoderWangJohansen2013 (help); Cappa, Claudia (July 2013). "Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Statistical Overview and Exploration of the Dynamics of Change" (PDF). UNICEF., page 25
5. UNICEF 2013 Archived 5 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine. For eight percent in Iraq, 27, box 4.4, group 5; for the regions in Iraq, 31, map 4.6). Also see Yasin et al. 2013 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYasinAl-TawilShabilaAl-Hadithi2013 (help).
6. Eromo Egbejule (2024-04-11). "'Right to freedom from torture': UN experts urge the Gambia not to decriminalise FGM". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
7. "A Statement by The United Nations in The Gambia on Protecting the Rights of Girls and Women from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)". gambia.un.org. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
8. Lyons, Kate (2015-11-24). "The Gambia bans female genital mutilation". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
9. Naranjo, José (2023-09-20). "'A 30-year setback' in The Gambia as religious and political leaders push to decriminalize female genital mutilation". El País. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
10. "Gambia lawmakers refer a repeal of the ban on female genital cutting to more committee discussions". AP News. 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
11. Cole, Diane (2024-03-22). "The Gambia is debating whether to repeal its ban on female genital mutilation". NPR.
12. Christensen, Sofia (2024-04-08). "Gambia MP defends bid to legalise female genital mutilation".

• Female genital mutilation by country
• Human rights abuses in the Gambia
• Religion in the Gambia
• Health in the Gambia
• Violence against women in the Gambia
• Women's rights in the Gambia
• Women in the Gambia