Gambia bans female genital mutilation

The Gambian government has introduced a ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Information Ministe, Sheriff Bojang, on Tuesday in Banjul announced the order by President Yahya Jammeh, which came into force immediately.

He said 158 female circumcisers have desisted from the cutting since a campaign was launched by the Gambia Committee for Traditional Practices.

“In May, the committee urged the National Assembly to heed the call by local chiefs and communities to ban FGM in the country.

“It is not clear whether legislation would be put in place to enforce the ban,” he said.