The United Nations has praised The Gambia for maintaining its ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) following a vote by the National Assembly. The joint statement by UN leaders, including UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, commended the country’s commitment to human rights and gender equality.
“FGM involves cutting or removing some or all of the external female genitalia. Mostly carried out on infants and young girls, it can inflict severe immediate and long-term physical and psychological damage,” the statement read.
The ban aligns with international commitments such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The UN emphasized the importance of legislative measures, community engagement, and support for survivors in eradicating FGM.
