All articles tagged with #female genital mutilation
Three women in Gambia have been charged following the death of a one-month-old girl who underwent female genital mutilation, highlighting ongoing debates and enforcement challenges despite the country's ban on the practice since 2015. The incident has sparked calls for stricter law enforcement and renewed discussions about cultural traditions versus women's rights.
Gambian activists, including Jaha Dukureh and Absa Samba, celebrated as the country's parliament voted 34 to 19 to uphold the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), rejecting a bill to reverse it. The decision comes amid intense debate and opposition from conservative clerics. The vote is seen as a significant victory for human rights advocates and sends a strong message globally, especially to countries considering similar bans.
Gambia's parliament has rejected a bid to overturn the 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), maintaining the law despite pressure from religious groups. The decision upholds penalties including fines and prison sentences for those who perform FGM, a practice that has affected 73% of Gambian women aged 15-49. Human rights organizations and the UN have condemned efforts to repeal the ban, calling it a critical measure for protecting women's rights.
Gambia's parliament has upheld a 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) by rejecting the Women’s (Amendment) Bill 2024, which sought to decriminalize the practice. The bill had passed a second reading but faced significant opposition from rights groups and international pressure. Lawmakers voted against each clause of the bill, preventing it from moving to a final reading. The 2015 ban on FGM remains in place, making the practice punishable by up to three years in prison.
In Gambia, a nationwide debate is ongoing about potentially repealing the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice that affects three-quarters of Gambian women. Fatou Saho, who vowed never to subject her daughter to FGM, discovered her daughter had been cut without her knowledge, highlighting the challenges of enforcing the ban and securing justice. Despite a parliamentary committee recommending the ban be maintained, the final vote is pending, and the practice continues with little accountability.
The Gambia is considering reversing its ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) with a bill that has advanced in the country's legislature, sparking concerns from advocates like Jaha Dukuray, founder of Safe Hands for Girls. Dukuray, a survivor of FGM, emphasizes the cultural shift and advocacy efforts that have reduced the prevalence of FGM in The Gambia. She shares her personal experience and highlights the psychological and health risks associated with the practice, expressing concern for the potential repeal's impact on women and girls.
The Gambia's parliament has voted to advance a bill that would reverse the 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), sparking concerns from rights groups about the potential impact on women's rights. The proposed legislation, which argues for upholding cultural and religious practices, has divided the nation and raised fears of setting a dangerous precedent for women's rights in the region. FGM, a harmful practice affecting millions of women and girls, has serious health risks and has been criminalized in many countries. UNICEF reports an increase in the number of FGM cases worldwide, with Africa having the largest share.
Lawmakers in Gambia are set to vote on a bill that seeks to repeal the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), potentially making the country the first to reverse such a prohibition. The practice, which involves the partial or full removal of external genitalia, is widely performed on young girls in parts of Africa and is incorrectly believed to control women's sexuality. The bill is backed by religious conservatives and aims to uphold religious purity and cultural norms, but activists fear it could lead to the erosion of other laws safeguarding women's rights. The United States has supported activists opposing the practice, and the bill has sparked protests outside Gambia's parliament. If passed, the bill is expected to be signed into law by President Adama Barrow.
Gambian lawmakers are set to vote on repealing a ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), which was implemented in 2015. The proposal to repeal the ban has sparked debate, with proponents arguing that it infringes on cultural and religious rights, while activists emphasize the health risks and human rights violations associated with FGM. Despite a decline in FGM prevalence since the ban, concerns have been raised that repealing the law could set a dangerous precedent for other countries and undermine global efforts to eradicate the practice.