On Monday, Gambia’s parliament dismissed a bill aimed at lifting the ban on female genital mutilation, with lawmakers voting against all the clauses in the proposed legislation, according to Parliament Speaker Fabakary Tombong Jatta.
The bill had sparked significant debate within the country, with activists and women’s rights groups arguing for the continued protection of girls and women from the harmful practice while some traditionalists pushed for its legalisation, citing cultural reasons.
The rejection of the bill means that the current ban, enacted in 2015, remains in effect.
The bill to repeal the ban on female genital mutilation passed its second reading in March, with only five out of 53 lawmakers voting against it.
This development sparked concerns among rights groups that Gambia could become the first country to overturn its ban on the practice.
On Monday, lawmakers reviewed and voted on each clause of the bill before its third and final reading scheduled for July 24, with the majority opposing each clause.
This led Jatta to halt the bill’s progress to the final reading.
“The Assembly cannot engage in such a futile exercise as to allow the bill to advance to a third reading,” Jatta stated following the votes.
“The bill is rejected, and the legislative process has been exhausted.”
According to the World Health Organisation, female genital mutilation (FGM) provides no health advantages and can cause serious health issues, such as excessive bleeding, shock, psychological trauma, and even death.
Beyond the immediate physical dangers, these complications can result in lasting emotional and psychological distress for those affected, highlighting the critical need for worldwide initiatives to eliminate this practice.
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