Tutti Drammeh, a student of St Joseph and a child activist has said that FGM should not be considered a matter of choice “as harming human beings cannot be a matter of choice.”

She made the remarks at the “Catch Them Young” dialogue on “National Convening on Female Genital Mutilation, Child Marriage and Sexual Violence,” held on Saturday 20th April at the Baobab Hotel.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we also hear people say FGM should be a matter of choice, our message to those people is that FGM cannot be considered a matter of choice. Harming human beings cannot be an option, even being their parents does not give anyone the right to harm children”, she argued.

Tutti adds that the state holds a responsibility under all international and local human rights instruments such as CEDAW, UNCRC and The Gambia Women’s Amendment Act to protect girls and women.

“Most of us believe that when the NAMs succeed in repealing this law. They will go after the child marriage law. We cannot afford to get there! This is not the era of regression but progression”, she further stressed.

Ms. Nafisa Binte Shafique the UNICEF Gambia Representative also said: “for several weeks and months now we have all been witnessing attempt and initiatives aimed at repealing the law banning FGM in the Gambia. The proposed repeal of the ban of FGM is a severe violation of human rights and a setback in the global fight against FGM”.

“Repealing this law will set a dangerous precedent and a step back on Gambia’s commitment to protect girls and women”, she added.

She further calls on the government to uphold the obligations under international and national human rights law to maintain the ban on FGM.

Catch Them Young – The Gambia a non-governmental organization dedicated to discovering, nurturing and unleashing the potentials of children, partnered with UNICEF Gambia to convene this dialogue on Saturday 20th April at the Baobab Hotel where different personalities grace the occasion including some National Assembly members