Gambia: Bill Threatens Female Genital Mutilation Ban

Gambia: Bill Threatens Female Genital Mutilation Ban  AllAfrica - Top Africa News

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Apr 19, 2024 - 22:30
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Gambia: Bill Threatens Female Genital Mutilation Ban

Gambia: Bill Threatens Female Genital Mutilation Ban

Reject Proposed Law That Would Reverse Critical Gains for Women’s, Girls’ Rights

A bill before Gambia’s National Assembly to reverse a groundbreaking 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) jeopardizes the rights of women and girls in the country, Human Rights Watch said today.

Gambia’s High Levels of FGM

  1. Gambia is among the 10 countries with the highest levels of FGM.
  2. The Gambian government adopted a national strategy and policy for 2022-2026 to end the practice in the country by 2030.
  3. If the National Assembly adopts the Women’s (Amendment) Bill 2024 at its June session, Gambia would become the first country to overturn a FGM ban.

The Impact of FGM

  • Female genital mutilation refers to “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.”
  • FGM violates girls’ and women’s rights to health, security and physical integrity, rights to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, rights to life, and rights to sexual and reproductive health.
  • Over 230 million girls and women worldwide have survived FGM and live with its lasting effects.
  • Approximately 73 percent of girls and women in Gambia ages 15 to 49 years reported surviving FGM.
  • More than 20 percent of them were infibulated, meaning the genital area is cut and sown shut.

The Need for Action

  • FGM is never “safe” and girls and women face a high risk of health consequences immediately and later in life.
  • The 2019-2020 Gambia Demographic and Health Survey data showed a slight decrease in FGM, but the percentage of girls and women ages 10 to 19 who reported experiencing FGM has not changed significantly over the last 30 years.
  • Most communities in Gambia use religion or tradition to justify the practice, despite there being no requirement in Sharia (Islamic law) for FGM.
  • FGM is addressed in a number of international conventions and regional agreements and is prohibited by national legislation in many countries.

The Sustainable Development Goals

  • The international community and UN member countries have committed to eliminating all harmful practices, including FGM, by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality.

Call for Action

  • The Gambian government should prioritize the protection of girls’ and women’s rights and adopt all measures to eliminate this harmful practice by 2030.
  • The government should invest in comprehensive education and awareness-raising programs, encourage community-led efforts to end the practice, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and provide survivor-responsive support.
  • International donors should coordinate with national and local efforts to advocate for upholding the FGM ban.

“The Gambian government should fiercely protect the rights of Gambian girls and women and reject any proposal to reverse or weaken the 2015 FGM ban,” Segun said. “The government should take concrete steps to end the harmful practice of FGM once and for all.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs

  1. Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality

Targets

  • Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation

Indicators

  • Indicator 5.3.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)
  • Indicator 5.3.2: Proportion of girls and women aged 15-49 years who have heard of FGM/C

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issue highlighted in the article is the proposed reversal of the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) in Gambia. This issue is connected to Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality, which aims to eliminate all harmful practices, including FGM.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The specific target under SDG 5 that can be identified based on the article’s content is Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions two indicators that can be used to measure progress towards Target 5.3:

  • Indicator 5.3.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)
  • Indicator 5.3.2: Proportion of girls and women aged 15-49 years who have heard of FGM/C

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation
  • Indicator 5.3.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)
  • Indicator 5.3.2: Proportion of girls and women aged 15-49 years who have heard of FGM/C

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: allafrica.com

 

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