We, women and girls of Africa and beyond;

Are aware of the existence of such a practice as Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) which involves the deliberate cutting or removal of a female's external genitalia, often resulting in severe physical and psychological consequences.

Are deeply concerned about the proposed repeal of the ban FGM/C in The Gambia. FGM/C is a violence against women and girls, sexual assault and child abuse that poses serious risks to the health, well-being, and human rights of women and girls. 

FGM/C has no health benefits; instead it poses immediate risks such as severe pain, shock, hemorrhage (bleeding), tetanus or sepsis (bacterial infection), urine retention as well as long-term consequences for sexual health and mental wellbeing.

According to the United Nations, an estimated 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone some form of FGM/C, with more than three-quarters of females aged between 15 and 49. 

The Gambia made significant strides when it banned FGM/C in 2015, joining over twenty other African countries that have outlawed this practice. However, recent developments suggest that there may be efforts to repeal this ban - a move that would be detrimental to the health and rights of countless women and girls.

The proposed bill, which aims to lift the ban on FGM/C in The Gambia, is a regressive step that threatens to undermine the progress made in protecting women and girls from this harmful practice. While proponents of the bill argue that FGM/C is a religious and cultural tradition, it is important to recognize that FGM/C is a form of violence against women and a violation of their human rights.

We urge the National Assembly of The Gambia to uphold the ban on FGM/C and reject any attempts to legalize or condone this harmful practice. Furthermore, we call on African governments, feminist leaders and movements, religious and traditional leaders, community members, and civil society organizations to join us in condemning FGM/C and advocating for the rights and dignity of all girls and women by;

We call on African governments to Uphold and enforce legislation banning FGM/C, allocating resources for FGM/C prevention and support services, and implementing comprehensive national strategies to eradicate FGM/C.

We remind the Republic of The Gambia as member of the United Nations and African Union must fulfil its international commitments and obligations to protect children against violence as it ratified a number of Human Rights conventions including CEDAW. Committee against torture, Convention on rights of the child, Banjul Charter: African Union Children's Charter, and Maputo Protocol among others. 

We call on Civil society to advocate for the protection of women and girls from FGM/C, providing support services for survivors, raising awareness about the harmful effects of FGM/C, and mobilizing communities to reject the practice.

We call on Religious and traditional authorities to Speak out against FGM/C, promote alternative rites of passage that do not involve FGM/C, and educate their communities about the importance of ending the practice.

We call on the International community to Provide financial and technical support to anti-FGM/C initiatives, advocating for the rights of women and girls at the global level, and hold governments accountable for their commitments to ending FGM/C.

Together, we can work towards ending FGM/C in The Gambia and ensuring the health, safety, and empowerment of all African women and girls and of future generations.

We cannot stand by while such harmful practices continue under legal protection. We must uphold human rights standards for all individuals regardless of their gender or age. Therefore we urge you not only to maintain but also enforce the existing ban on FGM/C in The Gambia.

Please sign this petition if you believe in protecting women's rights to bodily autonomy and integrity.

#StopFGMRepealGambia