Zero Tolerance for FGM: Why Repealing the Law in The Gambia Would Be a Dangerous Step Backward
- Girls Talk Show/Org
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is one of the most widespread forms of violence against girls and women in The Gambia. Despite being criminalised in 2015, the practice remains deeply embedded in social norms, affecting nearly three in four women aged 15–49, many of whom were cut before the age of five.
In early 2026, as the world marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, The Gambia finds itself at a critical crossroads. A renewed legal effort is underway to overturn the law that protects girls from this harmful practice, an effort that comes amid rising global attacks on women’s rights and gender equality. This moment demands clarity, courage, and a firm commitment to protecting girls.
What Is FGM — and Why the Harm Is Not Up for Debate
FGM involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is often carried out on young girls without anaesthesia, using unsterile instruments, and without consent.
The harms are well documented and undeniable. FGM can result in:
Severe bleeding and infection
Long-term pain and complications during childbirth
Psychological trauma
Loss of sexual autonomy
In some cases, death
FGM has no medical benefits. It does not protect health, morality, or family stability. It exists solely to control girls’ bodies and behaviour.
Internationally, FGM is recognised as a violation of human rights, and global frameworks, including those ratified by The Gambia, call for its elimination.
Zero Tolerance for FGM: The Current Challenge to the Law in The Gambia
Although the ban on FGM was passed over a decade ago, enforcement only began recently. The first convictions in 2023 marked a turning point, and also triggered a strong backlash.
Following a failed attempt in parliament in 2024 to decriminalise FGM, a new case has now been brought before the Supreme Court. Those challenging the law argue that it violates cultural and religious freedoms. This argument is deeply concerning.
It comes in the wake of tragic deaths of infants subjected to FGM, underscoring the real and immediate dangers of the practice. To frame the ban as an attack on culture ignores the fundamental responsibility of the state to protect children from harm.
Debunking the Myths Used to Defend FGM
❌ “FGM is required by religion”
There is no religious text that mandates FGM. Religious scholars across Muslim and Christian communities have repeatedly stated that the practice is cultural, not religious. Faith should never be used to justify harm.
❌ “FGM is harmless or minor”
FGM is never harmless. Even forms described as “less severe” can cause lifelong physical and psychological damage. Harm is not determined by intent, it is determined by impact.
❌ “FGM preserves morality”
The idea that cutting girls will control sexuality reflects deeply rooted gender inequality. Girls are not responsible for managing social expectations through bodily harm.
❌ “Repealing the law protects cultural rights”
Culture is not static. Practices that cause harm can and must evolve. Protecting culture should never come at the cost of children’s lives and rights.
Why Repealing the Law Would Be a Historic Mistake
Repealing the FGM ban would send a devastating message:
That girls’ lives are negotiable
That violence can be excused if it is widely practiced
That legal protections for women and girls are temporary
It would weaken trust in the justice system, embolden perpetrators, and place countless girls at risk. It would also isolate The Gambia from regional and global commitments to protect women and children from violence. At a time when women’s rights are under attack globally, from Afghanistan to the United States, rolling back protections would align The Gambia with a dangerous global regression.
The Role of Community, Law, and Leadership
Ending FGM requires more than laws alone, but laws are essential. They provide:
A clear standard that harm is unacceptable
Protection for families who choose not to cut their daughters
Accountability for violence
Community-led education, survivor voices, and youth leadership are critical to changing norms. But without legal backing, these efforts are undermined. Sustained investment in women-led and youth-led organisations is key. These are the groups doing the hardest work, often with the least support.
A Call to Protect Girls’ Futures
On this International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, we call on leaders, institutions, and communities in The Gambia to stand firm.
Protecting girls is not a Western agenda.
Ending FGM is not an attack on culture.
Safeguarding children is not optional.
The law banning FGM must be upheld, and strengthened, not dismantled. Girls deserve to grow up safe, whole, and free from violence. The future of The Gambia depends on it.
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