Gambia parliament rejects bill to end ban on female genital mutilation

A victory for opponents of female genital mutilation in The Gambia

When she was 2, Absa Samba underwent genital cutting – also known as female genital mutilation.“I do not have any memories of what happened to me that day, but I do remember it not being talked about,” she says.Now, Samba is 29 and she speaks openly – and critically – about the practice. She says it undermines the dignity and well-being of women and is a tool used to “control our bodies and our well-being.”That echoes the World Health Organizati…

Gambia Lawmakers Reject Bill to Reverse Ban On Female Genital Cutting

Gambia's parliament rejected a bill Monday that sought to reverse the country's ban on female genital cutting.

The Gambia was the first state in the world to lift a ban on genital mutilation. But things are changing now, intensive lobbying seems to have paid off.

Gambia Parliament keeps 2015 ban on female genital mutilation

The Parliament of Gambia voted Monday to maintain a 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) by rejecting a controversial bill which sought to reverse the prohibition and legalize the practice of female circumcision. The Women’s (Amendment) Bill 2024, introduced in March 2024, aimed to repeal the ban and introduce the option of “consent” for women who wish to undergo FGM as part of their culture or religion. After its first and second reading…

Gambia upholds ban on female genital mutilation

Gambian lawmakers have blocked an attempt to re-legalize female genital cutting after months of debate. The practice remains common in the West African country, despite the upheld ban.

Gambia Upholds Landmark Ban on Female Genital Cutting

Gambian lawmakers have defeated an attempt to overturn a historic ban on female genital mutilation in a boost for the global century-old campaign against the practice.