By Maimuna Sey-Jawo
The Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia Madam Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang has presided over official opening forum on commemorating the International day of O Tolerance on FGM/C.
The forum is aimed at improving girls´and women’s conditions and gender equality, under the framework of the EU funded project “Evidence into Action- Applied Research & Knowledge Transfer for Management and Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in The Gambia”,
The event was organised by the UNFPA, the Catalan Agency for Development, and Wassu Gambia Kafo held at a local hotel in Brufut,
During the two days forum stakeholders also reviewed and updated what has been done on FGM/C, shared success stories and drew useful lessons and good practices from countries and organisations in Africa and Europe.
VP Tambajang said the laws on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting will stay in the Gambia, adding that the struggle to end FGM started in 1980 which is faced with a lot of challenges.
She said as lesson learned during those days they found it difficult to advocate against FGM as many term it as religious.
She said WASSU KAFO Gambia has brought added value to practice of FGM/C advocacy.
Madam Tambajang said FGM/C is an indecent practice that remains a deep rooted tradition in 29 countries of sub- Saharan Africa, part of the Middle East including Asia among others.
“The local becomes global and the practice is widely spread in African Diaspora,” she said.
According to the vice president, the fight is not over as FGM is still practiced and considered a traditional belief
She assured Gambians that the law on FGM/C is going to be implemented.
