By Alagie Manneh
Women’s rights activist and anti-FGM campaigner Jaha Dukureh said the 2015 FGM law, enacted by former ruler Yahya Jammeh, is here to stay in the Gambia.
Former President Jammeh signed into law a bill that placed a ban on the practice of Female Genital Mutilation in The Gambia, saying it is not required in Islam.
And anti-FGM campaigner Jaha Dukureh said she remains hopeful the ban on the age-old and harmful tradition, which she fought for will continue to exist.
“I am very hopeful that FGM will be eradicated completely in our country,” Ms Dukureh told The Standard.
“We have women like the honorable Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, Dr Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang Sisoho who have fought all their lives to see practices like FGM eradicated. I know for certain that these women will not sit aside and watch the law repealed,” an optimistic Jaha said.
Jaha who returned for a short visit to the Gambia before her departure Wednesday, also said she met President Adama Barrow.
“His humility inspires me and his openness and desire to improve our Gambia should be commended,” the activist also the founder of Safe Hands for Girls, an organisation working to end FGM, said.
She also said she is very hopeful of the Gambia’s future.
“There has never been a time in our history when things looked this good,” she said.
