‘Right to freedom from torture’: UN experts urge Gambia not to decriminalize FGM
A team of UN experts has urged Gambian lawmakers not to repeal the ban on female genital mutilation, saying such a move would set a dangerous global precedent.
In a letter dated April 8 and made public on ThursdayAccording to the experts, led by Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, allowing the unchecked return of “one of the most pernicious forms of violence against women and children” would be a violation of their right to freedom from torture.
Mama Fatima Singhateh, who was Gambia’s justice minister when the law banning FGM was passed in 2015 and is now special rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, was also one of the four signatories.
The letter comes after Gambian lawmakers overwhelmingly supported an amendment to the law banning FGM during a second round of voting on March 18.
Almameh Gibba, the lawmaker who sponsored the new bill, said he did so to “uphold religious loyalty and protect cultural norms and values” in the Muslim-majority state.
The Gambia banned FGM in 2015 with a law punishing the practice with up to three years in prison or 50,000 dalasis (£586) in fines. It was the result of years of lobbying by rights groups inside and outside the country, some led by FGM survivors.
“In addition to reversing the intended changes that would result in the rights of women and girls in The Gambia, this would give a dangerous global priority to governments that facilitate female genital mutilation, rather than devoting resources to preventing and protecting against the practice . “, the letter says.
About half of the West African country’s 2.7 million inhabitants are women. Many of them have had to undergo the practice or have family members who have done so. According to UN estimates, this could amount to up to three-thirds of all women aged 18 to 49 in the country.
The law came as a relief for girls and women. It was widely praised by the international community as a sign of progress and an example for other countries to follow. But it was not popular in parts of Gambia, which remains a deeply religious society.
Calls to repeal the law began last year after the first major conviction under the law: three women in the northern village of Bakadagi were found guilty of mutilating eight young girls.
Although the fines of 15,000 dalasi (£176) each were considered lenient, one influential imam was so dissatisfied with the case that he paid some of their fines and then began a campaign to overturn the law.
“This campaign against female circumcision is actually a fight against Islam. But we are ready to sacrifice everything… those who arrested them and the magistrate who convicted them and any other person who supports them, we will curse them until we leave this world to ensure that Allah destroys them.” said Imam Abdoulie Fatty. This was quoted by local newspaper The Standard last September.
That campaign quickly found its way to parliament, where a final vote is now scheduled for June. However, the president would still have to give his final approval to the change.
If successful, the amendment would mean that “the well-being, safety and security of women and girls in The Gambia is not the priority for the government,” Alsalem told the Guardian in an email.
Some experts fear the move could also stagnate the fight to enshrine the rights of women and girls in general.
“What happens in Gambia does not stay in Gambia,” Alsalem said.