By: Mariama Njie
Stakeholders have on Thursday vowed to end traditional practice of female genital mutilation in the country and continue protecting women and children of the country against all form of violence.
Minister of women, children and social welfare Fatou Kinteh, who spoke at the ceremony, welcomed the move saying 2015 banning on the practice marks an impressive milestone in the country’s endeavor towards ending FGM/C.
“This significant accomplishment came to pass after several years of sensitization and training of individuals reinforced by stringent advocacy,” she said.
The supportive role of convinced Islamic Religious leaders and scholars in the advocacy against FGM/C was influential at both policy and community levels, she said.
According to her, prohibition and criminalization of FGM/C through the amendment of the National Women’s Act have given effects to the Gambia’s commitment in implementing the international convention for all the elimination of all forms of violence against women.
Professor Adriana Kaplan, executive director of Wassu Kafo, said One of the major conquers has been the amendment of the Women’s Act banning Female Circumcision by the National Assembly in December 2015.
She stated that, everyone should be involved in decision making and sensitization that will enable stand firm for the abandonment of the practice.
“But we must be aware that applying the law is difficult and presents multiple constraints, as shown in most of other countries where it has been banned for decades”, she added.
According to her, a girl died as a result of an intervention done by a medical doctor in Egypt, where the prevalence among women between 15 and 49 years if around 90%, and it is mostly being medicalized underground.
“We also seek to contribute to the 5.3 Sustainable Development Goals to all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilations”, she added.
Speaking on behalf of speaker of national assembly Sainey Touray said: “at the level of the national assembly we are very much passionate about issues concerning human right.”
“the assembly pride itself in champion the cause of women, children and to make sure they are protected from any form of violations,” he said.
He further commended the UNFPA for their immensely contribution in building the capacity of national assembly members in regards to the girl children.
He also urges medical professionals to know more about FGM to be able to sensitize women who practices it on girls.