In the shadow of The Gambia voting to re-instate FGM, our Chairperson Abdoulie Baldeh, has written a letter to President Adama Barrow.
15th March, 2024.
An open letter to President Adama Barrow on FGM
Dear Mr. President,
I hope this letter finds you well. I wish to express my concern about the widely talked about female genital mutilation (FGM). I strongly urge you and your government to stand firm in protecting the fundamental rights of women and girls against these horrific harmful deeply rooted cultural practices often confused or attributed to religion (Islam) as challenged by many Islamic scholars.
The Gambia being a signatory to the United Nations conventions are laudable. Thus, upholding the principles of these conventions firmly protects injustices against women and girls and upholds gender equality and equity. FGM violates several human rights outlined under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Conventions on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. Several human rights strategies have been utilized such as education programs focused on awareness/empowerment, advocating for the enactment and enforcement of laws, and campaigns to recruit change agents from within communities. Hence, FGM significantly compromises the physical integrity and freedom from discrimination and violence. Fundamentally, FGM perpetuates gender inequality and equity and grossly undermines the efforts already achieved in sustainable development leading to gender equity in our dear motherland. Some of the reasons advanced by FGM advocates include sanity, reducing/removing the sensational sexual feels, etc. Listening to the renowned Islamic scholar, Imam Abdoulie Fatty at Kerr Fatou made me understand the practice to be purely culturally motivated. During the show, he said, and I quote “The practice existed well before the birth of our great grandparents” which in my opinion is a cultural norm. Following the national dialogue on Eye Africa TV by various speakers further affirms the practice (FGM) to be a cultural belief where some said, "women have delivered (giving birth) safely without any problem(s)”. Others argued that women can still die in labour who were not exposed to the practice. I heard others talking about letting other people exercise their right to decide whether to perform the procedure on their kids or not. Should this right be considered by the victim (child) or the parent? Either way, the right of the victim (child) surpasses the interest of the parents. No amount of pressure should be applied on the child but rather the child be given the opportunity as her fundamental right to decide otherwise.
Mr. President, the practice is extremely painful and traumatic which may lead to excessive blood loss. The unnecessary removal of and/or damage to the healthy skin, and normal genital tissue interferes with the natural functioning of the organ and causes several immediate, short, and long-term consequences such as fistula, keloids and even death. Research revealed that babies born to women victims of FGM suffer a higher rate of intrauterine and neonatal death compared to women who have not undergone the procedure. Furthermore, the practice violates the rights to security, health and physical integrity of the survivor, inhuman or degrading treatment, the right to freedom from torture and cruelty and eventually the right to life if it claims the life of the victim.
The psychological, emotional, and physical suffering subjected to those FGM victims necessitates an urgent need to comprehensively address and prevent decriminalizing the practice. Implement comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights through awareness campaigns and education programs to inform and empower communities about the human rights violations, health risks and complications associated with FGM. Engage religious and community leaders, elders, and influential people seeking to eliminate FGM and end the practice. Support survivors to access appropriate psychological and medical care as desired. Encourage and approve research on the prevalence and impact of FGM to have an evidence-based fact to inform and influence policy decisions.
I strongly concord with the earlier writers, social media and rights advocates’ standpoints on this sensitive, and phenomenal deeply rooted cultural practice imposed on our innocent young girls. Former president, your predecessor realized the dangers associated with the practice and henceforth banned FGM throughout the Gambia. I respectfully urge you and your government to protect and prevent the proposed repeal of the law that criminalizes FGM. I encourage you to utilize your powers, political influence, and political connections to promote legal means in preserving and enforcing laws and regulations that violate the fundamental rights of girls and women while holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Thank you for your consideration,
Abdoulie K Baldeh
Chairperson
Njaboute Foundation
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