Gambian CSOs Urge Parliamentarians to Maintain FGM/C Ban

CSO Coalition Advocating for Maintaining FGM Ban (c) Edward F. Dalliah

By Yusef Taylor and Edward Francis Dalliah

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) held a press conference a day before Parliamentarians are set to consider the Bill to repeal the ban on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) to urge Parliamentarians not to repeal the ban.

The Coalition consisting of the National Youth Parliament (NYP), the Children’s National Assembly The Gambia (CNAG), The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO), Safe Hands For Girls and the Network Against Gender-Based Violence (NGBV) hosted the joint press conference at Paradise Suites Hotel today, 14th July 2024.

Speaking to the media, NYP Clerk Abdoulie Bah highlighted that "FGM/C is a harmful practice that has a long-lasting and a devastating effect on the physical, psychological and socioeconomic well-being of women and girls".

Currently, FGM/C is an illegal practice which involves the partial or complete removal of the external female genitalia, punishable by a fine of up to D50,000 and or 3 years imprisonment. According to the 2013 Demographic Health Survey, up to 76% of Gambian women have undergone the practice which experts say offers no health benefits.

Back in March 2024, Hon Almameh Gibba of Foni Kansala tabled a private member's Bill for the Ban to be repealed which was committed to the Joint Committee of Health and Gender "to consider and scrutinise the Bill and present its findings and recommendations to the Assembly".

The Bill titled, the Women’s (Amendment) Bill 2024 is commonly known as the FGM/C Ban Repeal Bill.

Last Monday 8th July 2024, Parliamentarians voted 35 to 17 to adopt the Joint Committee's Report which recommended that Parliament maintain the FGM/C Ban and not medicalise the practice. Tomorrow, 15th July 2024 Parliament will consider the Bill clause by clause.

According to the Objects and Reasons of the Bill tabled by Hon Gibba, "the current ban on female circumcision is a direct violation of citizens' rights to practice their culture and religion as guaranteed by the Constitution. Given The Gambia's predominantly Muslim population, any law that is inconsistent with the aspirations of the majority of the people should be reconsidered".

The Gambia's Supreme Islamic Council issued a Fatwa on 14th March 2024 highlighting that they would "like to clarify that Allah has decreed female circumcision, and it, therefore, condemns quarters and individuals who denounce the practice and calls on the authorities to hold them accountable".

Although the Supreme Islamic Council termed the practice Islamic, the Permanent Human Rights body of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) called it "mere tradition" in a press release issued in February 2024.

According to the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the OIC, "the Commission considers that harmful practices like FGM are mere traditional customs without any proven religious sanction. On the contrary, the Islamic principles and values categorically condemn such practices and strongly advocates adopting legal and administrative measures to comprehensively eliminate these practices not only as a religious imperative but also for achieving equality, equity, social justice, and sustainable development".

Besides religious bodies ruling on the practice, President Adama Barrow has stated his Government's resolve to maintain the ban. In addition, the Gambia's National Human Rights Commission, and the African Union's Human Rights and Women's Rights Bodies have also issued statements urging the government to maintain the ban.

In what could be their last chance to send a clarion call to their Representatives, Civil Society leaders issued "a call to action for the National Assembly to consider the Committee's Recommendation to maintain the ban on FGM/C in The Gambia".

Tomorrow will give a clearer picture if Parliamentarians will heed their call to maintain the ban or ignore it to repeal the ban against FGM/C.

#FGM #CSOs #Women #Girls #HumanRights #Religion #Parliament

CSOs Advocating to maintain FGM Ban (c) Edward F. Dalliah