Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, the Gambia) – It is indeed concerning that the largest opposition political party, UDP would vote against the FGM Report which has recommended that the banning of FGM remains unchanged in the Women’s Act.

t is totally disheartening that in 2023 parochial-minded NAMs sought to maintain patriarchy in our society to continue that system of subjecting girls and women to harm, domination and control. To give strength to their misguided narratives and position under the guise of Islam and culture, Almameh Gibba, Member for Foni Kansala went further to place a private member’s bill seeking to amend the Women’s Act to lift the ban on FGM.

It is with delight that today, NAMs have voted to maintain the Women’s Act as it is thereby ensure that the aged-old harmful traditional practice of FGM remains outlawed. Indeed, a law may not immediately change the minds and hearts of a person, but it has the effect of restraining a person from perpetrating harm to another, as noted by Martin Luther King Jr. Thus, what is necessary now is for the National Assembly to strengthen their oversight role by ensuring that the Government fully, effectively and consistently enforce this law.

But what is indeed most concerning about this issue is to see how NAMs from the largest opposition party which claims itself to be a ‘democratic’ party overwhelmingly vote against the recommendations of a National Assembly Joint Committee on such a pertinent matter. Except for Hon. Muhammed Lamin Bah of Banjul North and Musa Badjie of Talinding Kunjang, all UDP NAMs either voted against or were found to be absent during the vote. This trend by the UDP is worrying since Sulayman Saho (UDP), Member for Baddibu Central became the first to voice out his determination on the floor of the National Assembly to repeal the Women’s Act just to decriminalize FGM.

Where does the UDP stand with regards to the rights of girls and women? Where does UDP stand regarding patriarchy? Where does the UDP stand with regards to harmful traditional practices? Where does the UDP stand on democracy and republicanism? Above all, what is UDP’s vision of a Gambia where fundamental rights and freedoms are recognized, upheld and protected?

As a major political party in this country, UDP has a duty to show proactive leadership in establishing a just, equal and fair dispensation across the country. This means UDP, and indeed all political parties must be seen defending and upholding democratic and republican values and standards by ensuring that discrimination, exclusion, and sexism are uprooted from the society. This is to stand up to ensure that all exploitative, oppressive and parochial ideas, beliefs, practices, relationships and institutions are removed from the Gambia. No harmful practice should be defended on the basis of religion or culture.

FGM is not only a harmful cultural practice but also an integral part of the social, economic and political system of patriarchy in which voice, power and resources are in the hands of men to te exclusion of women. Patriarchy is a system in which girls and women are relegated behind boys and men. It is a system in which the practice of FGM, child betrothal, arranged and forced marriages among other harmful practices and beliefs have been conceived and imposed on girls and women to keep them subjugated for the sole interest of boys and men.

In a democratic republic, patriarchy is a contradiction. This is why the 1997 Constitution did not provide any space that would allow any harmful belief or practice on the basis of culture. Rather the Constitution, while recognizing the right to practice one’s culture and religion, ensured that such practices do not harm the rights and dignity of a person. Not only has the Constitution protected rights and dignity but went further to guarantee the equality of all citizens as the democratic foundation upon which this country is founded as a republic as captured in Section 1(2).

Therefore, why would UDP members vote in a way to maintain FGM in a democratic republic in total violation of Section 1(2) of the Constitution. Chapter 4 of the Constitution guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms of all citizens, and these rights and freedoms by nature require the abolition of FGM. Thus, anyone seeking to maintain FGM is effectively maintaining patriarchy which is to undermine the democratic and republican foundations of the Gambia.

It is therefore quite disheartening that a supposedly democratic party like the UDP is standing on the same voting block and agreeing with dictator-enabling NAMs of Yaya Jammeh’s so-called ‘No To Alliance’. Gambian girls and women should rise up to demand accountability from the UDP for this undemocratic, anti-republican and chauvinistic vote that they have taken against them.

Special kudos to the NPP and PDOIS NAMs, and the Independents for standing on the right side of history.

For The Gambia, Our Homeland

Madi Jobarteh