"Gambia's Parliament Revisits Female Genital Mutilation Ban"

Gambia's parliament debated a bill seeking to repeal the landmark law banning female genital mutilation (FGM), sparking protests as religious groups pushed for the law to be overturned. The motion was referred to a parliamentary committee for further review, with the deputy speaker expressing support for the FGM ban. The law, enacted in 2015, imposed fines and prison sentences for engaging in the practice, but pro-Islamic groups and lawmakers have campaigned for its repeal. Human rights organizations and activists have strongly opposed the move, emphasizing the importance of protecting women's rights and condemning any attempt to roll back the progress made in prohibiting FGM.