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In The Gambia, Activists and Civil Society Win a Victory for Women and Girls [1]

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Date: 2024-12

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a long-standing traditional practice in many sub-Saharan countries, often carried out when girls are between one month and nine years old. Over the past year, activists in one of these countries, The Gambia, have shown that it is possible to challenge these harmful cultural practices and protect the rights of women and girls.

FGM is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as any procedure involving the “partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.” Internationally, it is recognized as a procedure that violates the human rights of women and girls without providing any health benefits. Many women who have undergone FGM suffer lifelong physical and psychological harm, and some never experience sexual pleasure.

Despite this, the practice remains deeply rooted in Gambian society. It has been reported that 95 percent of women in some rural areas and 49 percent of women in more urban areas have undergone FGM. Many view it as a cultural rite that ensures girls remain chaste until marriage, reduces libido, and makes it easier for parents to control their daughters.

FGM was practiced openly in The Gambia until 2015, when former president Yahya Jammeh banned it through the Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015, which aimed to protect the rights of women and girls. While the law was seen as progressive, some legal experts criticized it for lacking an effective implementation strategy. Very few efforts were made to enforce the law, and many girls continued to endure the pain and complications of FGM.

The fight for the Women’s (Amendment) Act

In August 2023, three women, including 95-year-old Mba Yassin Fatty, were taken to court and convicted of performing FGM on eight infants aged between four months and one year. Following their conviction, prominent Islamic scholar Imam Abdoulie Fatty (no relation) paid the fines imposed on the three women. Imam Fatty, along with a few other scholars and members of the National Assembly, asserted that the practice of FGM is Islamic and should be maintained, and some members of the National Assembly began supporting a campaign to repeal the Women’s (Amendment) Act. In March 2024, Almami Gibba, a member of the party of former president Jammeh, introduced a bill seeking to repeal the act and allow women and girls in The Gambia to undergo FGM. Some lawmakers also began considering the idea of medicalizing the practice by allowing healthcare professionals to perform FGM.

In response, civil society organizations sprang into action, launching a campaign that used medical evidence to raise awareness about the harmful effects of FGM. Supported by their development partners, civil society groups organized activities across the country, including in-person events, online campaigns, radio talk shows, and billboards. Gambian civil society coordinated its efforts through the existing Network Against Gender Based Violence (NGBV), which facilitated communication and solidarity, significantly contributing to the campaign’s success.

The movement sparked widespread controversy, with many advocates facing backlash for speaking up against the practice. The Gambian government, meanwhile, remained largely silent, likely due to the sensitivity of the issue and the cultural significance of FGM in the country. The main opposition parties, including their women and youth branches, also refrained from commenting, potentially fearing that doing so would impact their performance in future elections. It wasn’t until the UN Commission on the Status of Women met in March 2024 that the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare issued a statement reaffirming the government’s commitment to upholding the rights of girls and women by maintaining the ban on FGM.

Civil society continued several of its efforts, including by calling legislators, lobbying, gathering evidence on death rates, and bringing victims forward to testify at the National Assembly. After a second reading and further review, as well as trips by Gambian lawmakers to learn about a similar law in Egypt, the National Assembly voted to reject the bill on July 15, 2024. The vote marked a significant victory for Gambian women, girls, and civil society.

The battle against FGM in The Gambia continues

While activists won the fight in The Gambia’s National Assembly, the battle is not over. A lawsuit has been filed at the country’s Supreme Court challenging the legality of certain sections of the ban on FGM, and the court has yet to issue a ruling. Although the law remains in place, the public is convinced that the practice continues, especially in rural areas. Civil society organizations and their development partners have rolled out various initiatives to combat FGM, including programs to raise awareness, train police investigators, and hold colloquiums for judges handling cases related to gender-based violence.

The struggle has already brought international attention to The Gambia and earned recognition for some activists. One of Freedom House’s longstanding partners, Fatou Baldeh, was honored at the White House earlier this year, receiving the International Women of Courage Award for her exceptional bravery and leadership in empowering Gambian women and girls and advocating for their rights.

Though the fight in The Gambia is ongoing, the successful campaign against FGM is a testament to the power of civil society activism. Gambian activists have demonstrated their ability to combat harmful cultural practices and defend the rights of women and girls.

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[1] Url: https://freedomhouse.org/article/gambia-activists-and-civil-society-win-victory-women-and-girls

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