By Sulayman Waan
The Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Coordinator at a grassroot human rights organisation called Beakayang, Mr. Ebrima Njie, Beakayang is of the settled view that for FGM to be eliminated in the society, there is need for collective responsibility among Gambians.
The human rights activist made the points in an exclusive media encounter with Mansa Banko Online, at Beakayang’s office, on February 6, 2020 as part of his observation of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.
{It’s a United Nations-sponsored annual awareness day that takes place on February 6 as part of the UN’s efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation. The Day was first introduced in 2003.}
The theme for this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting, “Unleashing Youth Power: One Decade of Accelerating Actions for Zero Female Genital Mutilation by 2030,” recognizes the power and influence of youth in ending this harmful practice.
FGM, as experts pointed out, comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons, and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of the girl-child.
But to Beakayang’s Coordinator Njie, its eradication requires collective responsibility, and he held, “I believe before 2030, FGM will be a thing of the past”.
The Beakayang official called on all and sundry to work collaboratively to make sure this harmful traditional practice is ended in the society, thereby freeing the girl-child from its health complications.
According to him, it’s an important day because it is set by the United Nations to ensure there is need for people to recognize the efforts of civil society organizations in the fight to ending FGM.
Njie further said this day aims to drawing attention of international and national communities to the efforts needed to accelerate actions towards the elimination of FGM in the world.
It could be recalled that in December 20, 2012, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Resolution to Ban FGM worldwide.The Resolution was co-sponsored by two thirds of the General Assembly, including the entire African Group, and was adopted by consensus by all UN members. Its adoption reflects universal agreement that female genital mutilation constitutes a violation of human rights.
However, Beakayang’s Coordinator believed the Gambia Government has much work to do concerning this practice, stressing their (government) voice is crucial in ending FGM in the society.
While acknowledging the Gambia is part of the countries that prohibited FGM, but he lamented that the number of people who secretly practice FGM is high. That despite the outlawing of FGM in 2015, and series of sensitization by civil society organizations, the practice continues owing to the fact that it’s deeply-rooted in the Gambia.
“Many associated FGM as religious practice,” he asserted.
Recalling that in the past many used to cut grown-up girls, Njie said, but now many circumcise small kids, secretly. He described the trend of FGM as alarming in the country, and urged the government to take a strict stand so as to abolish FGM.
Njie opined that President Adama Barrow should have used his nationwide tour to tell Gambians to end FGM and other practices that affect women and girl-child, but instead he “only talked about agriculture”.
He said health personnel said this practice has both short-term and long-term health complications on women and girls, adding “the short-term health effects include severe bleeding, while the long term complications cause infertility, menstrual effects, and infection, among others.
He challenged the civil organizations to work collectively through enlightening the masses as well as engaging in interface dialogue on the health effects of FGM, to ensure it is eliminated.
