The Gambian Parliament to discuss the bill banning female genital mutilation
A bill seeking to repeal Gambia's ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) was presented in the West African country's Parliament yesterday Monday and is expected to be debated by members of parliament later this month.
The former president of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, banned the practice in 2015 and specified heavy fines and prison terms for criminals who will violate the ban.
However, many Gambian citizens still believe that female genital mutilation is a religious and cultural issue, and the bill submitted by MP Almameh Gibba states that the current ban violates the rights of citizens to practice their culture and religious ideologies.
The bill has divided public opinion in The Gambia. Proponents of the FGM ban point to the physical and psychological effects of the practice on girls and women, saying lifting the ban would be a step backwards.
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that this practice has no health benefits and can cause many problems for women's health.
The bill to discuss the ban on female genital mutilation in The Gambia is set to be debated again on March 18 in the Gambian Parliament.
