Gambia Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Ban on Female Genital Mutilation
A bid to overturn the Gambia's ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) has reached the country's supreme court, sparking concern among human rights activists who see it as a backlash against women's rights.
The move comes after two babies died last year as a result of FGM, prompting an MP to table a bill decriminalizing the practice. The Gambia has one of the highest rates of FGM in the world, with almost three-quarters of women between 15 and 49 having undergone the procedure.
Religious leaders and activists are now challenging the ban at the supreme court, arguing that it violates Gambians' constitutional rights to cultural and religious freedoms. A prominent Muslim leader testified that female circumcision is part of Islam and is not harmful, sparking outrage among human rights groups.
The court has heard from two witnesses so far, including a founder of a pro-FGM organization who argued that the practice reduces women's sexual desire and that there are diverse practices and experiences around FGM. A lawyer representing the plaintiffs is also due to give evidence, having announced plans to run for president in the country's upcoming elections.
The challenge to the ban on FGM is part of a global wave of attacks on women's rights. Other countries have seen proposed laws restricting access to abortion and contraception services, while in Iran, women are being targeted by the regime.
A report by Equality Now highlights new legislative proposals in Bolivia and Uruguay that threaten to weaken protections against sexual violence. In South Korea and Argentina, government bodies responsible for advancing women's rights are being dismantled.
The Gambia's ban on FGM is seen as a crucial step towards protecting women's rights, but the challenge to it at the supreme court has raised concerns about the erosion of these rights worldwide.
A bid to overturn the Gambia's ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) has reached the country's supreme court, sparking concern among human rights activists who see it as a backlash against women's rights.
The move comes after two babies died last year as a result of FGM, prompting an MP to table a bill decriminalizing the practice. The Gambia has one of the highest rates of FGM in the world, with almost three-quarters of women between 15 and 49 having undergone the procedure.
Religious leaders and activists are now challenging the ban at the supreme court, arguing that it violates Gambians' constitutional rights to cultural and religious freedoms. A prominent Muslim leader testified that female circumcision is part of Islam and is not harmful, sparking outrage among human rights groups.
The court has heard from two witnesses so far, including a founder of a pro-FGM organization who argued that the practice reduces women's sexual desire and that there are diverse practices and experiences around FGM. A lawyer representing the plaintiffs is also due to give evidence, having announced plans to run for president in the country's upcoming elections.
The challenge to the ban on FGM is part of a global wave of attacks on women's rights. Other countries have seen proposed laws restricting access to abortion and contraception services, while in Iran, women are being targeted by the regime.
A report by Equality Now highlights new legislative proposals in Bolivia and Uruguay that threaten to weaken protections against sexual violence. In South Korea and Argentina, government bodies responsible for advancing women's rights are being dismantled.
The Gambia's ban on FGM is seen as a crucial step towards protecting women's rights, but the challenge to it at the supreme court has raised concerns about the erosion of these rights worldwide.
- if we're not careful the backwards steps we take can lead to a lot of harm for women's rights and overall well-being 
in my opinion the gambia's ban on fgm was a huge step forward 
it's not okay that some ppl are trying to roll back progress by saying its part of their culture & religion, like who gets to decide what someone else can or cant do with their own body? 
and yeah we're seeing this play out in other countries too - it's all about control over women's bodies and lives 
its not right period ...and now they're gonna try to overturn the ban in Gambia's supreme court? that's just super concerning 
I've been following this whole thing and it feels like we r losing ground on women's rights everywhere...like what's next is gonna be even more severe 
... and yet, we still see people trying to limit women's choices, often under the guise of "cultural or religious freedom" 
... what is that even supposed to mean? are our cultural practices really more important than human rights? 
. And now, with this challenge to the Gambia's ban on FGM, it feels like we're taking two steps backwards. It's interesting how this challenge has sparked outrage among human rights groups, maybe they can help turn things around? 
. The whole experience was so traumatic for her and even now as a strong woman, she still struggles with the physical and emotional scars 
. The fact that two babies died last year due to FGM is just devastating 
. We can't let this happen again! 
, I just can't believe what's happening in The Gambia right now 
. They're trying to overturn a ban on FGM that's literally saving lives! 
It's like they're taking two steps back for every step forward when it comes to women's rights 
. And don't even get me started on the fact that some people are saying FGM is part of Islam and is not harmful 
. Newsflash: just because something has been practiced by a certain group for a long time doesn't make it acceptable or safe 
.
. It's like, we're taking two steps forward and then one step back in terms of women's rights, you know? I mean, just because some people think it's their cultural or religious right to mutilate their daughters doesn't mean we should let that happen 
. The fact that we're seeing proposed laws restricting access to abortion and contraception services in other countries is already a huge step backward. We can't let FGM challenges like this one derail our efforts to protect women's health and well-being 
This whole thing is super worrying... I'm all for women's rights and empowering women, but some of these cultural practices are just so... outdated 
. And to be honest, I'm a bit skeptical of this whole "FGM reduces women's sexual desire" argument - sounds like a bunch of misinformation to me 
. Maybe there's a way to find a balance between respecting cultures and protecting women's rights? 
. 3/4 of Gambian women between 15-49 yrs old have undergone the procedure 
: other countries are seeing laws restricting abortion and contraception services... it's like they wanna take us backward 
. And those stats from Equality Now? Bolivia & Uruguay are proposing bills that could weaken protections against sexual violence 
... not cool at all 
.
It comes at a time when there are already so many attacks on women's rights happening around the world. It's like, we thought we were making progress, but it seems like some people just want to take us back 
. I'm literally shaking with rage right now