End female genital mutilation in The Gambia
The Issue
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has claimed the lives and futures of numerous innocent, brilliant, and talented young girls in our society. This practice not only robs them of their bodily autonomy but also inflicts lifelong physical and psychological harm. It is a violation of their most basic human rights. As a community, and a nation, we cannot allow this harmful tradition to continue to victimize our girls.
In The Gambia, the prevalence of FGM remains alarmingly high, despite efforts to eliminate this practice. According to UNICEF, approximately 75% of girls and women aged 15-49 in The Gambia have undergone some form of FGM. This statistic represents not just numbers, but real lives, real dreams, and potential futures lost. FGM can lead to severe health complications, including chronic pain, infections, increased risk of childbirth complications and newborn deaths, and is often carried out in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
The battle we face is twofold: cultural and legislative. There is a pressing need to implement and enforce existing laws that criminalize FGM, such as The Gambia's Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015, which bans the practice. However, legislation alone is not enough. The perpetuation of FGM is deeply embedded in cultural beliefs and norms, often mistaken as religious obligations or rites of passage.
Thus, we call upon the relevant authorities, community leaders, religious leaders, parents, and all citizens of The Gambia to join us in this urgent mission. We need comprehensive public education campaigns to dispel myths surrounding FGM, highlighting its illegality and harm, while promoting alternative rites of passage that honor and respect cultural traditions without endangering our girls.
Moreover, we urge the government to strengthen support systems for survivors of FGM, offering medical care, psychological support, and safe spaces for healing. Collaboration with health practitioners and educators at the community level can ensure early intervention and prevention of FGM.
Our girls deserve better. They deserve the chance to grow, learn, and thrive without the weight of this brutal practice. Our commitment today can transform tomorrow. By acting together, we can eradicate FGM and safeguard the dignity and health of future generations.
Sign this petition to demand a safer future for our girls and to put an end to FGM in The Gambia once and for all.
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The Issue
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has claimed the lives and futures of numerous innocent, brilliant, and talented young girls in our society. This practice not only robs them of their bodily autonomy but also inflicts lifelong physical and psychological harm. It is a violation of their most basic human rights. As a community, and a nation, we cannot allow this harmful tradition to continue to victimize our girls.
In The Gambia, the prevalence of FGM remains alarmingly high, despite efforts to eliminate this practice. According to UNICEF, approximately 75% of girls and women aged 15-49 in The Gambia have undergone some form of FGM. This statistic represents not just numbers, but real lives, real dreams, and potential futures lost. FGM can lead to severe health complications, including chronic pain, infections, increased risk of childbirth complications and newborn deaths, and is often carried out in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
The battle we face is twofold: cultural and legislative. There is a pressing need to implement and enforce existing laws that criminalize FGM, such as The Gambia's Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015, which bans the practice. However, legislation alone is not enough. The perpetuation of FGM is deeply embedded in cultural beliefs and norms, often mistaken as religious obligations or rites of passage.
Thus, we call upon the relevant authorities, community leaders, religious leaders, parents, and all citizens of The Gambia to join us in this urgent mission. We need comprehensive public education campaigns to dispel myths surrounding FGM, highlighting its illegality and harm, while promoting alternative rites of passage that honor and respect cultural traditions without endangering our girls.
Moreover, we urge the government to strengthen support systems for survivors of FGM, offering medical care, psychological support, and safe spaces for healing. Collaboration with health practitioners and educators at the community level can ensure early intervention and prevention of FGM.
Our girls deserve better. They deserve the chance to grow, learn, and thrive without the weight of this brutal practice. Our commitment today can transform tomorrow. By acting together, we can eradicate FGM and safeguard the dignity and health of future generations.
Sign this petition to demand a safer future for our girls and to put an end to FGM in The Gambia once and for all.
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Petition created on September 7, 2026