The Gambia which imposed steep fines and jail sentences for those who carry out female circumcision, known by the acronym FGM, in 2015 is set to lift the ban on the previous act of parliament.
Parliamentarians were recorded to have voted 42 to four on Monday to advance the controversial bill, which would repeal a landmark 2015 ban on FGM that made the practice punishable by up to three years in prison.
The World Health Organization says the practice has no health benefits and can lead to excess bleeding, shock, psychological problems and even death.
If the bill is passed, The Gambia would become the very first country to reverse a ban on FGM as Almameh Gibba, the lawmaker who presented the repeal bill earlier this month, argued the ban violates citizens’ “rights to practice their culture and religion”. He said, “The bill seeks to uphold religious loyalty and safeguard cultural norms and values.”
“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.
The number of women and girls who have undergone FGM worldwide has increased to 230 million from 200 million eight years ago, the United Nations Children’s Fund reported earlier this month.
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.