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Photo Credit:- End FGM
‘FGM is a form of violence against women which entails the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to female genital organs for non-medical reason.’- UN Women.
‘Teacher no teach me nonsense‘ in Fela’s voice. According to reports gathered, Gambian women have refused to allow the authority in their state decide for them. After the ban on Female Genital Mutilation in 2015, Gambian lawmakers are set to legalize the perceived ‘cruel ideology’ after an eight-year ban. A Gambian lawmaker justified this act implying that it is deeply rooted in their ‘ethnic, traditional, cultural and religious’ beliefs.
I believe this is a mere excuse to subjugate the Gambian females. There are cultural, traditional, and ethnic practices that have been considered unfit for humans to live a better life. Female Genital mutilation is one of those acts that are harmful to humans, the females particularly.
Regardless, its roots are still deep in African culture because they believe it is a cure to ‘promiscuity’ in females. So what is the cultural cure for promiscuity in males? What part of the male reproductive system is cut off in sheer wickedness to chastise them not to be a woman wrapper? Tell me one because I do not know one yet.
In March 2024, out of 46 lawmakers who voted on repealing the ban on FGM in Gambia, 42 voted for and four against. I might not be wrong to say that most people who voted for this act are men who believe in female subjugation. Does the opinions of the recipients of this act matter? What is culture if it infringes more on the life of the people?
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The response of Gambian women to this bill
Photo Credit:- MGN
The Gambian women in response to this took to the streets to protest with various placards- Middle-aged women were also advocating against the legislation because they were testaments to the ills of the cruel act.
76% of girls and women between ages 14-49 have undergone FGM in Gambia. Still, the adamancy of the parliament to legalize this act is absurd. The Voice of America reports a statement made by a lawmaker which goes thus,
“We will make sure that it’s about the people,” he said. “The bill is about the people for the people, and the people will stay in their processes. When it goes to the national consultation, whatever the determining factor is, we will take it as people decide. So we will not sit in a corner in our comfort zone and we make judgments on our own.”
This comes without any explanation other than tying it to beliefs. The people concerned are women who are recipients of this act, not men who believe they know best. The Gambian lawmakers did nothing to ‘Inspire Inclusion‘ of women to this decision.
The act has no health benefit but poses a threat to the full functioning of a woman’s sexual abilities. The World Health Organisation has at different times talked about the ills of this act.
Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have shown concern about this act as an infringement of human rights and women’s rights especially. There is no justifiable excuse acceptable for the Female Genital Mutilation Bill.
What could have made a country that put legal consequences to the practice of FGM turn its back on the cause now? Maybe, the men were intimidated by the freedom women had over their sexual lives. If this bill is passed into law, it will be no doubt a big obstacle to the achievement of SDG 5.3 (ending FGM) by 2030.
Nigeria is the West African state with the highest number of Female Genital Mutilation cases in the world.
Our thoughts go to women in Gambia fighting against the imposement of this act upon them. We call on human rights activists and non-governmental organizations who are keen on human rights to see to it that the bill is not passed.
Also, neighboring states in West Africa should be on guard so the epidemic of this ideology would not take the form of legislation at their side also. Nigeria, as a West African country, has a lot of human rights activists fighting against FGM because it holds the highest number of cases in the world. Even with laws binding this act in Nigeria, the act still takes full expression in different parts of the nation.
Let us help eradicate FGM. Let us see to it that we make the world a better place for women to thrive and be truly free!
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