By James Hughes 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.
According to Reuters, the lawmaker that took the proposal to parliament, Almaneh Gibba, said he was upholding cultural and religious prerogatives in the Muslim-majority country where FGM is widespread and deeply rooted. Many Islamic scholars dispute his arguments.
The World Health Organization says FGM has no health benefits and can lead to excessive bleeding, shock, psychological problems and even death.
The bill passed a second reading in March with only five out of 53 lawmakers voting against it, raising concerns among rights advocates that Gambia would become the first to reverse a ban on the practice.
But after holding weeks of public hearings, parliament’s health and gender affairs committees presented a joint report on July 8 recommending that Gambia maintain the ban.
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