Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Gambian President Adama Barrow said Thursday that his government would abide by a 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) even as a bill comes before parliament that could see the law revoked.

“Honorable Speaker, noteworthy is the private member bill to repeal the Women’s Amendment Act 2015 currently under review by the Legislature. While awaiting its outcome, the government remains committed to enforcing the prohibition of FGM in The Gambia,” President Barrow said.

He added that in 2024, the government plans to expand the special court for children to handle more cases and set up a forensic lab dedicated to processing evidence in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases, specifically for rape.

The Gambian head of state explained that in 2023, the Gender, Women, and Social Welfare sector made substantial progress in several critical areas. They constructed shelter support services in Bakoteh to temporarily house survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). Additionally, a GBV and child protection helpline (199) has been integrated with the Gender Management Information System.

Moreover, the Government of The Gambia has introduced a victims’ support fund to facilitate the rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

President Barrow announced, “To uphold women’s effective participation, I entreat the National Assembly to approve the Private Member Bill, which advocates a thirty percent (30%) governance quota for affirmative action.”

According to the Gambian head of state, these efforts demonstrate the government’s dedication to transforming the social welfare landscape by creating a safer and more equitable space for women and children in The Gambia.