By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Gambia National Assembly’s lawmakers have moved the contentious Women’s Amendment Bill, which proposes to lift the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), to the National Assembly Business Committee for further review on Monday, March 18, 2024.
The bill was introduced for its second reading by Hon. Almamy Gibba, the National Assembly member for Foni Kansala. He emphasized that the bill aims to maintain religious equality and protect cultural norms and values. He argued that the existing prohibition on female circumcision infringes on citizens’ constitutional rights to practice their culture and religion.
“The bill seeks to uphold religious parity and safeguard cultural norms and values. The current ban of female circumcision is a direct violation of citizens’ rights to practice their culture and religion as guaranteed by the constitution of the Gambia”. He said.
The lawmakers then debated the bill’s general merits and principles, with varying opinions. Some supported the repeal, while others opposed it. Alhagie S. Darboe, the representative for Brikama North, proposed that the bill be sent to the Assembly Business Committee for further examination by a relevant committee.
The speaker of the parliament, Honorable Fabakary Tombong Jatta, put the proposal to a vote. Forty-two lawmakers voted in favor of sending the bill to the appropriate committee, four voted against, and one abstained.
Jaha Dukureh, a Gambian women’s rights activist and anti-FGM campaigner, expressed her wish for the National Assembly Members to reject the bill. However, she acknowledged that referring it to a committee provides an opportunity for the Human Rights Committee, the Women’s Committee, and the Health Committee to conduct evidence-based research on why FGM is harmful.
“So overall, I think this is a good thing, because one of the challenges in the Gambia is that a lot of people are claiming that the Gambia doesn’t practice female genital mutilation, and if we take this back to the health committee, and we take it to the human rights committee, then we are able to present evidence that everyone can review that is from Gambians, from Gambian hospitals. So in a way, I think this is good. National dialogue was necessary, and I personally believe that this is good,” she said.
She believes that this move is beneficial as it allows for national dialogue and the presentation of evidence from Gambian sources, countering claims that FGM is not practiced in the Gambia. She also emphasized the need for civil society to educate communities about the harms of FGM and for survivors to share their experiences.
“And survivors like myself, they need to share their experiences because I think one of the things that has been very hurtful to me is hearing people invalidate our stories and say that we are making it up,” she added.
Gibril Haruna Saidy, a supporter of the pro-FGM bill, is hopeful that the bill will pass, citing the majority of the National Assembly Members’ religious concerns. Hon. Bakary Badjie, the National Assembly member for Foni Bintang Karenai, stressed the need for collaboration to repeal the FGM law and called for an end to the restriction of people practicing their beliefs and culture.
“Today should be the last day as far as I am concerned about locking people because they went to practice their beliefs and culture. And I know if we are to go for a referendum on the matter, automatically 85% of the people will vote in support of the repealing of the law,” he stressed.