MPs in the West African country voted Monday against a bill that would repeal a 2015 law banning the harmful practice, which involves cutting off or removing part or all of the external female genitalia.
FGM is usually performed on infants and young girls. It can cause serious immediate and long-term physical and psychological harm, including infection, later complications in childbearing, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Commitment to rights and well-being
“Following today’s vote by the Gambia’s National Assembly, we commend the country’s decision to uphold the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), reaffirming its commitments to human rights, gender equality and the protection of the health and well-being of girls and women“, the UN officials said in a joint statement.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to support the Government, civil society and communities in The Gambia in the fight against FGM.”
The statement was issued by Catherine Russell, Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF); Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UN-FPA); Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO); Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Womenand Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Separately, the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed also welcomed the decision in a post on social media.
‘Parliament has spoken’: UN deputy chief
“A monumental achievement by Gambia for their women and girls. Parliament has spoken for their rights by upholding the law banning FGM,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Violence against Children, Najat Maalla M’jid, also took to the stage to welcome this “important decision”.
Maintaining the ban on female genital mutilation is in line with Gambia’s international and regional commitments to prevent harmful practices against girls and women, the statement by the five officials said.
Praise for grassroots efforts
They also praised the tireless efforts of survivors, activists, civil society organisations and religious groups working to eradicate FGM.
“By maintaining the ban, we support these grassroots initiatives, which are vital to ending all forms of violence.including harmful practices, against girls and women and delivering a safer and healthier future for girls and women in The Gambia and elsewhere,” they said.
The fragility of progress towards eliminating female genital mutilation cannot be overstated, as violations of the rights of women and girls in countries around the world jeopardise hard-won gains, they stressed.
“In some countries, progress has stalled or been reversed due to opposition to girls’ and women’s rights, instability and conflict, which has disrupted services and prevention programmes,” they noted.
While legal prohibitions are “a crucial basis for intervention,” UN officials were adamant that they alone cannot end FGM. They said more than 73 percent of girls and women between the ages of 15 and 49 in Gambia have already undergone the practicemany before the age of five.
‘We cannot rest’
In recent months, the need for continued commitment to promote gender equality, end violence against girls and women and secure the progress made to accelerate the fight against female genital mutilation has been highlighted, the statement said.
“It also underscores the importance of engaging with communities and grassroots organizations, collaborating with traditional, political and religious leaders, training health workers and effectively raising awareness about the harms caused by this practice,” the researchers said.
They stressed that support for survivors “remains as urgent as ever,” noting that many suffer long-term physical and psychological damage that may result from the procedure and require extensive medical and psychological care to heal.
The officials stressed their commitment to supporting the government, civil society and communities in The Gambia, saying: “Together, we must not rest until we ensure that all girls and women can live free from violence and harmful practices and that their rights, bodily integrity and dignity are upheld.
