The Malick Jallow Foundation for Children (MJFC) welcomes the decision of the Members of Parliament to uphold the penalization of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia. This decision is fundamental and probably a watershed moment in the protection and promotion of the rights of children including the girl child in The Gambia.
The MJFC as one of the main protagonists in championing the penalization of FGM in The Gambia, seizes this opportunity to commend the government of The Gambia and the Legislative arm of the State for showing the requisite political will and commitment to resist unprecedented pressure to overturn the penalization of FGM in the country.
Reacting to this development, the MJFC President and Founder Lawyer Malick H.B Jallow remarked, “this key development now provides us with a renewed platform to push ahead with comprehensive sensitization and awareness raising on the harmful ramifications of this traditional practice in order to win hearts and minds and to ensure its eradication from our society in a timely and effective manner. Towards this end, as a Foundation, we have prepared and would soon disseminate and publish a thorough research paper to serve as a possible entry point and working tool towards ensuring greater awareness on the need to abandon this practice. “
Finally, the MJFC recognizes the tenacious efforts of civil society organizations in The Gambia in ensuring that the attempt to overturn the ban on FGM was not successful.
