The Gambia’s National Assembly has decisively rejected a bill to repeal the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). Speaker of Parliament Fabakary Tombong Jatta announced that lawmakers voted down all clauses of the proposed law.

The bill, which had passed a second reading in March with only five out of 53 lawmakers opposing it, was halted before its final reading scheduled for July 24.

This decision came as a relief to rights groups concerned about The Gambia potentially becoming the first country to reverse an FGM ban. Women’s rights activist Jaha Dukureh, along with other activists and citizens, celebrated the development at the legislature.

The Women’s (Amendment) Bill, 2023, introduced by Almamy Gibba of Foni Kansala, was rejected during the plenary.

Reporting from Banjul, WADR’s Sankulleh Janko noted that women’s rights activists hailed this as a victory