30 women circumcisers have vowed to stop Female
Genital Mutilation (FGM). So, has Gamcotrap’s campaign
to eradicate this deep-seated
cultural practice been a success so far? Binta A Bah reports
The Gambia has ratified and signed international and
regional instruments on all forms
of harmful traditional practices such as the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination
Against Women or CEDAW as well as enactment of local laws to promote
and protect the rights of women and children.
For example, the Children’s Act and the Women’s Act call for protection
of children from harmful traditional practices as well as educating the
population on the effects of harmful traditional practices on reproductive
health in particular.
However,
the Women’s Act has failed
to spell out female genital mutilation which is regarded as violence against
women, violates their rights and affects their health in numerous ways.
