العربية
July 15, 2024 – Women’s Rights
In a significant victory for women’s and girls’ rights, senior UN officials have praised The Gambia for maintaining its ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). On Monday, Gambian lawmakers voted to reject a bill that aimed to overturn the 2015 law prohibiting this harmful practice, which involves the cutting or removal of external female genitalia.
FGM, typically performed on infants and young girls, can lead to severe immediate and long-term physical and psychological damage, including infections, childbirth complications, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Commitment to Rights and Well-Being
“Following the vote today by the National Assembly of The Gambia, we commend the country’s decision to uphold the ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), reaffirming its commitments to human rights, gender equality, and protecting the health and well-being of girls and women,” the UN officials said in a joint statement.
The statement was issued by Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF; Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA; Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO; Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women; and Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Separately, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed hailed the decision on social media, calling it a “monumental achievement.”
Grassroots Efforts and Ongoing Advocacy
The officials praised the relentless efforts of survivors, activists, civil society organizations, and faith-based groups working to eradicate FGM. “Upholding the ban supports these grassroots initiatives, which are pivotal in 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.
They emphasized the fragility of progress towards ending FGM, noting that assaults on women’s and girls’ rights globally have jeopardized hard-won gains. “In some countries, advancements have stalled or reversed due to pushback against girls’ and women’s rights, instability, and conflict, disrupting services and prevention programmes,” they noted.
The Importance of Comprehensive Efforts
While legislative bans are critical, the UN officials insisted that they alone cannot end FGM. They highlighted that over 73 percent of girls and women aged 15 to 49 in The Gambia have undergone the practice, many before the age of five.
“It also underscores the importance of engaging with communities and grassroots organizations, working with traditional, political, and religious leaders, training health workers, and raising awareness effectively on the harms caused by the practice,” they said.
The officials stressed the urgency of supporting survivors, many of whom suffer long-term physical and psychological harm and need comprehensive care to heal.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to support the government, civil society, and communities in The Gambia in the fight against FGM,” the officials reiterated. “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.”
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