The United Nations agencies have called on the Gambia government to enforce laws that protect women and girls from harmful traditional practices and provide support services for survivors.

The UN bodies which included Unicef, UNDP and UNFPA made the joint statement as they celebrate the Zero Tolerance for FGM Day. 

“Let us invest more in developing, implementing, and enforcing laws and policies that protect girls and women. 

“Let us invest more in building broad partnerships, improving dialogue and consultations, inviting everyone – girls and boys, women and men, parents, community leaders, local authorities, the civil society, law enforcement, religious leaders, development partners and national leaders to act to #EndFGMNow. 

“We must not rest until the last girl is protected from FGM and until the last knife is dropped,” the UN bodies said in a joint statement.

“We must continue to work together to build on past progress and do more to protect every girl and woman at risk of FGM. 

“The Gambia has registered progress in ending FGM: between 2010 and 2018, FGM among girls aged 0-4 years old dropped by 10 per cent to 27 percent, whilst more women, 49 per cent, are now openly saying FGM should stop.

“This is a paradigm shift, but for The Gambia to meet the global target of ending FGM by 2030, efforts must be scaled up at least 10-fold. 

“The practice of FGM continues to further exacerbate deeply rooted gender inequalities in societies by limiting opportunities for girls and women to realise their rights and full potential in terms of health, education, and income. 

“The perceived values associated with the practice are grounded in socio-cultural and religious misconceptions that continue to obstruct gender equality.

“On this Zero Tolerance for FGM Day, we must take action to protect every girl. Let us invest more in programmes that protect girls from harmful practices and provide support services for survivors.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba