The World Health Organization says female genital mutilation has no health benefits and can lead to excessive bleeding, shock, psychological problems and even death
Gambians protest against a bill aimed at decriminalizing female genital mutilation as parliament debates the bill in Banjul, Gambia, on March, 18.Gambian lawmakers on Monday debated whether to repeal a ban on female genital mutilation, which has been on the rise in recent years despite activist campaigns to end the practice.
Lawmaker Almameh Gibba presented the repeal bill earlier this month, arguing the ban violates citizens’ rights to practice their culture and religion. Gambia is an overwhelmingly Muslim country.After debating the bill, the lawmakers voted by 42 to four to send it to a parliamentary committee for review, the parliament’s speaker said.
It said the largest share of those women and girls were found in African countries, with over 144 million cases, followed by over 80 million in Asia and over 6 million in the Middle East. “If the law is reversed in Gambia, there is a risk that the advocacy efforts in subsequent countries … will fail or go back,” said Caroline Lagat, a programme officer at Equality Now.
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