Gambia MPs Uphold Ban On Female Genital Mutilation. On July 15, 2024, the Gambian parliament voted to reject a bill that sought to lift the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), maintaining the 2015 prohibition on the practice. The bill, introduced by lawmaker Almameh Gibba, had initially garnered support when it was introduced in March but faced significant opposition from human rights groups and international organizations like the United Nations, who warned that lifting the ban would undermine progress made in protecting women’s rights in the country.

The proposed legislation aimed to reverse the ban, arguing that FGM is a cultural and religious practice for many in the Gambia, a Muslim-majority nation. Despite these arguments, the parliament decisively voted against the bill during its second reading, preventing it from advancing to a third reading.

FGM involves the partial or total removal of female genitalia and has no health benefits, often resulting in severe health complications such as infections, infertility, and even death. The practice has been globally condemned as a violation of women’s and girls’ rights. In Gambia, approximately 73% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 have undergone FGM.

Rights groups like ActionAid and Amnesty International have been vocal against the bill, highlighting that repealing the ban would be a significant setback for women’s rights in the Gambia. They have called for the continued enforcement of the ban and increased efforts to address the root causes of FGM.

The rejection of this bill signifies a commitment by Gambian lawmakers to uphold the protections afforded to women and girls under the 2015 ban, despite ongoing cultural and religious debates surrounding the practice.