Protect Gambian girls by upholding the ban on FGM
The Issue
Protect Gambian Girls: Urge The Supreme Court to Uphold the Ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Target Audience:
• The Supreme Court of The Gambia
• The Office of the Attorney General of The Gambia
To the Justices of the Supreme Court of The Gambia and the Attorney General:
We, the undersigned global citizens, human rights advocates, and defenders of children's rights, call upon the Supreme Court of The Gambia to firmly uphold the Women’s (Amendment) Act of 2015, which criminalizes female genital mutilation (FGM).
The Gambia stands at a critical historical crossroads. Following the parliamentary defeat of efforts to repeal the ban in 2024, opponents of the law have taken their fight to the Supreme Court, arguing that the criminalization of FGM violates cultural and religious freedoms.
We reject this argument entirely.
FGM is not a harmless cultural expression; it is a violent, irreversible practice that inflicts severe physical, psychological, and reproductive trauma on infants and young girls—often resulting in lifelong complications or death. International bodies, medical experts, and human rights frameworks universally recognize FGM as a grave violation of human rights and a form of torture.
Overturning the 2015 ban would not only strip away vital legal protections for Gambian girls—leaving nearly three-quarters of future generations vulnerable to abuse—it would also set a dangerous global precedent, signaling a regression in the worldwide fight for women's and girls' bodily autonomy.
We respectfully urge the Supreme Court of The Gambia to:
1. Uphold the Constitutionality of the FGM Ban: Maintain Sections 32A and 32B of the Women’s (Amendment) Act of 2015 as valid, necessary, and legally binding.
2. Prioritize the Safety and Rights of Children: Reaffirm that fundamental rights to bodily integrity, health, and life supersede harmful traditional practices.
3. Strengthen Enforcement: Support state prosecutors and civil society organizations in holding perpetrators accountable.
The eyes of the world are watching. Protect the girls of The Gambia. Preserve the law. Save lives.
69
The Issue
Protect Gambian Girls: Urge The Supreme Court to Uphold the Ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Target Audience:
• The Supreme Court of The Gambia
• The Office of the Attorney General of The Gambia
To the Justices of the Supreme Court of The Gambia and the Attorney General:
We, the undersigned global citizens, human rights advocates, and defenders of children's rights, call upon the Supreme Court of The Gambia to firmly uphold the Women’s (Amendment) Act of 2015, which criminalizes female genital mutilation (FGM).
The Gambia stands at a critical historical crossroads. Following the parliamentary defeat of efforts to repeal the ban in 2024, opponents of the law have taken their fight to the Supreme Court, arguing that the criminalization of FGM violates cultural and religious freedoms.
We reject this argument entirely.
FGM is not a harmless cultural expression; it is a violent, irreversible practice that inflicts severe physical, psychological, and reproductive trauma on infants and young girls—often resulting in lifelong complications or death. International bodies, medical experts, and human rights frameworks universally recognize FGM as a grave violation of human rights and a form of torture.
Overturning the 2015 ban would not only strip away vital legal protections for Gambian girls—leaving nearly three-quarters of future generations vulnerable to abuse—it would also set a dangerous global precedent, signaling a regression in the worldwide fight for women's and girls' bodily autonomy.
We respectfully urge the Supreme Court of The Gambia to:
1. Uphold the Constitutionality of the FGM Ban: Maintain Sections 32A and 32B of the Women’s (Amendment) Act of 2015 as valid, necessary, and legally binding.
2. Prioritize the Safety and Rights of Children: Reaffirm that fundamental rights to bodily integrity, health, and life supersede harmful traditional practices.
3. Strengthen Enforcement: Support state prosecutors and civil society organizations in holding perpetrators accountable.
The eyes of the world are watching. Protect the girls of The Gambia. Preserve the law. Save lives.
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Petition created on 23 September 2026