Gambia’s parliament upholds ban on female genital mutilation

Anti-FGM protesters hold placards outside the National Assembly in Banjul, during the debate between lawmakers on a highly controversial bill seeking to lift the ban on FGM [File: Muhamadou Bittaye/AFP]

Gambian lawmakers have voted to uphold a 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), rejecting a controversial bill seeking to overturn the law, after months of heated debate and international pressure.

The Women’s (Amendment) Bill 2024, which had sought to decriminalise the practice of female circumcision, had passed a second reading in March with only five out of 53 lawmakers voting against it, raising concerns among rights groups that The Gambia would become the first country to reverse a ban on the practice.