Gambian parliament considers bill to lift ban on female genital mutilation

Gambian lawmakers have advanced a bill to lift the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) in the West African nation, a controversial issue that has caused division for several months. Some legislators argue that the ban infringes upon citizens' cultural and religious practices, while others warn that lifting it would set back efforts against the procedure, which is often performed on girls under five years old with tools such as razor blades. The bill was referred to a committee for further discussion and could be subject to another vote within weeks. Pro-FGM campaigners outnumbered those advocating for the ban to remain in place, with activists expressing concerns that this legislation would reverse progress made against FGM and potentially harm the country's human rights record. It is important to note that there are different perspectives on this issue, and further research may be necessary to fully understand the complexities of the situation.