Gambian lawmakers vote to maintain ban on FGM
National Assembly of The Gambia has on Monday maintained the ban on Female Genital Mutilation when they voted against the Women’s (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Informing the general public about the rejection of this Bill, the Ministry of Information in a statement said none of the bill’s clauses were passed during the committee of the Whole Assembly stage.
“This means that the ban on FGM is still firmly maintained in The Gambia,” it noted.
The dispatch added that this vote reaffirms Gambia Government’s commitment to protecting the rights and the well-being of women and girls throughout the country.
According to the ministry, the government will continue to work towards legislative and policy reforms that advance gender equality and empower women and girls across the nation.
“Enacted in 2015, the law banning GM remains in full effect. This practice has caused significant harm to many women and girls over generations. The government stand firm in its resolve to eliminate this harmful practice,” it stated.
The ministry stressed that FGM remains a crime in The Gambia, and anyone found engaging in or facilitating this practice will face the full force of the law, on all citizens to respect and adhere to the law, and to support efforts to eradicate the harmful practice.
Women’s (Amendment) Bill, 2023 sought to repeal the Women’s Amendment Act that criminalises FGM in The Gambia.
The parliamentarian who strongly advocated for legalising of FGM, Almameh Gibba, contended that the 2015 Women’s Amendment Act violated Muslims’ rights to practice their culture and religion.
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