Anti-FGM/C Advocates Launch 'First-Ever' National Social Media Campaign

By Edward Francis Dalliah

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) against Female Genital Mutilation or Circumcision (FGM/C) under the leadership of the Network Against Gender-Based Violence (NGBV) launched their ‘first ever’ National Social Media Campaign against FGM/C in The Gambia on Thursday 30th May 2024.

The launch which took place at Action Aid The Gambia is themed: “With Young People, For Young People and By Young People” and aims to end the practice of FGM/C in the present generation. Campaigners have galvanized a group of young social media influencers with the zeal to end the “harmful practice that undermines the health and well-being of girls and women”.

During his opening remarks, the National Coordinator of the NGBV Mr Fallu Sowe, highlighted that the desire to end the practice in the country has come a long way since the 1980s, but could not be accomplished despite all the giant strides made over the years.

However, “never in the history of the advocacy against FGM/C did we have such a united, vibrant, coordinated and determined [group of] CSOs comprising of mainly youth-led organizations. This signals hope and a bright future in our campaign”, said Mr Sowe.

Anti-FGM/C Campaigner Recalls Start of FGM/C Ban

FGM/C was prohibited in The Gambia in 2015 shortly after former President Yaya Jammeh banned the practice via a declaration and followed it up with the passing of the Women's Amendment Act 2015. The Women’s Act 2015, 32(A) criminalizes FGM/C and punishes offenders with D50,000 and or 3 years imprisonment. Provision 32(B) of the Women's Amendment Act 2015 further criminalizes and punishes accomplices and promoters of FGM/C with the same fines and jail terms.

Jaha Dukureh the founder of Safe Hands for Girls and a prominent FGM/C type three survivor revealed how she was cut when at only “one week old”. She disclosed how she continues to receive insults, publicly and online in her struggle against the practice.

On the 23rd of May 2024, she appeared before the National Assembly's Joint Committee on Health, Refugee, Humanitarian Relief and Disaster and Gender, Children and Social Welfare. She narrated her struggle towards the passing of the Women’s Amendment Bill back in 2015 when she followed Jammeh on one of his political rallies and had the opportunity to speak to him about banning the practice.

Ms Dukureh told the NAMs that two days after she met with Jammeh “that is when [she] was called and told that they wanted [her] to come back to Kanilai and that was when Jammeh [declared the ban on FGM/C]”.

However, since that announcement which gave birth to the law, only one set of three convictions have been made after almost nine years of its passing. The sentence of three women for practising FGM/C resulted in a fine of only D15,000 each and no jail time. Islamic Scholar Imam Fatty, a former State House Imam of former President Yahya Jammeh, eventually paid the fines.

Pro-FGM/C and Anti-FGM/C Campaign

Imam Fatty and some religious leaders preached that FGM/C was Islamic and came into confrontation with anti-FGM/C campaigners focused on ending the practice. The public debate balanced the issue of human rights and the perceived religious rights of parents to practice FGM/C on their children. Meanwhile, some religious leaders such as Imam Baba Leigh of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and other International Islamic Scholars refuted claims that FGM/C was Islamic.

The topic drew even more public attention and eventually, the member for Central Baddibou, Hon Sulayman Saho tabled a Matter of The Day on the possible repeal of the Bill back in September 2023. Sometime in March 2024 during the month of Ramadan – a holy month for Muslim fasting - efforts were being ramped up by both anti and pro-FGM/C supporters. Eventually, Hon Almami Gibba of Foni Kansala tabled a Private Members Bill to reverse the FGM/C Ban in early March 2024.

During the first reading of the FGM/C Ban Repeal, Imam Fatty and other pro-FGM/C Campaigners gathered massive crowds of supporters outside Parliament bringing them once again into direct opposition with anti-FGM/C Campaigners.

Between the first and the second reading the Gambia’s Supreme Islamic Council released a ‘Fatwa’ - an Islamic Ruling – on 14th March 2024 stating that ‘female circumcision is not merely [an] inherited custom as falsely claimed by those who are clueless about Islamic law. Rather, it is one of the virtues of Islam and among the Sunnah practices dictated by the Messenger of Allah, Peace be Upon Him’.

The Bill passed its second reading in mid-March 2024 when Parliament decided to commit the Bill for consultation via the Joint Committee on Health, Refugee, Humanitarian Relief and Disaster and Gender, Children and Social Welfare. The Joint Parliamentary Committee have since met various stakeholders who made presentations and submitted position papers for or against the FGM/C Ban's repeal.

Media Plays an Important Role in Amplifying Victims' Voices

Ms Fatou Baldeh, the founder of Women in Liberation and Leadership (WILL) another survivor of the practice reminded young social media influencers of the significant role of the media in advocating for the end of FGM/C. She noted that the media plays an important role in amplifying the voices of survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

“The media is a big tool that we can use not only to advocate against FGM/C but also to amplify the voices of survivors of violence”, said Ms Baldeh who was recently awarded the 2024 Women’s Rights Award at the Geneva Summit for Women’s Rights back in May 2024.

Ms Baldeh explained that despite their efforts to protect women, Pro-FGM/C advocates have been using “the media to silence survivors of the practice --[which] has contributed to many of them not coming out and sharing their experiences”.

To address this, Ms Baldeh urged all advocates to “speak up using the different platforms that we have to share our experience [and] break the culture of silence and taboo, and to also empower other people to speak up so that we can share our pain and suffering”.

Bill to Continue Parliamentary Process

In his concluding remarks Mr Fallu Sowe explained that the objectives of the campaign are to; increase awareness of FGM/C facts among young people, mobilize young people to speak up for the protection of women and girls from FGM/C and other harmful practices and build a Country/Regional network of young people who can use social media to raise awareness of FGM/C and other social issues.

After the Consultation, the Joint Parliamentary Committee is expected to compile a report and table it to the Plenary for debate which will guide Parliament in deciding the next Consideration Stage of the Bill. This could take place in the Second Ordinary Session of the year 2024.