Source: FOROYAA
"Female genital mutilation is widely practiced in The Gambia and whether this tradition is religion or not it is a form of violence against women and young girls that have to be brought to light and stopped.

We have heard of the several initiatives taken to eradicate FGM at the International, Regional, Sub-regional and National levels. Recent UN conferences have advocated that women's empowerment is central to development.

The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo discussed the population issue not just as a technical, demographic problem, but as a choice that women should be empowered to take within the context of their health and reproductive rights," said Mary Small, Senior Programme Coordinator GAMCOTRAP.

Small said the Copenhagen Declaration of the World Summit on Social Development (WSSD) called for the recognition that empowering people, particularly women, to strengthen their own capacities is a main objective of development, and that empowerment requires the full participation of people in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of decisions determining the functioning and well-being of societies.

Mrs. Small said the Report of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women called its Platform for Action is an agenda for women's empowerment and that it means the principle of shared power and responsibility should be established between women and men at home, in the workplace and in the wider national and international communities.
She further said that to still demonstrate the harmful nature of the practice, the conference on FGM held in Oslo in November 2011 issued an Islamic Fatwa against FGM which was signed at the end of the conference by a group of religious leaders, among others. She added that the issuing of Fatwa is a serious step, one that is used by Muslims world over who view Sharia law as a guide to good Muslim-hood. By signing a Fatwa, the organizers of the conference say Female genital Mutilation must be stopped by all means globally.
Similarly, in Mauritania in 2011, a West African Fatwa against FGM was issued by Islamic scholars. Indeed, a lot has been done and many people are now aware that FGM is not a religious injunction. Thanks to the great scholars of Islam for taking a lead to dissociate FGM from Islam.
The Gambia is not isolated in these initiatives. Several strategies have been implemented; communities have learnt that the old age tradition is harmful. The target groups including their traditional leaders now call for the practice to be stopped. This has resulted to several circumcisers giving up the practice in several communities.
In the North Bank Region, the European Union has made a tremendous impact. Interested in women and children's rights the EU has funded the FGM sensitization campaign in the region with several target groups including the chiefs and governors participating. This has not only led to them advocating for the eradication of the practice but called on government to institute a law banning FGM.
She said in addition, the EU being so committed to the eradication of FGM could not let the International Zero Tolerance pass by without creating awareness on the need to join the rest of the world to eradicate FGM as it has implication on women's health and rights.
"In the light of the above, I wish to extend gratitude to all donor agencies who have contributed to the successes registered. Gratitude is extended to the EU, for sourcing funds for the implementation of activities geared towards FGM eradication in Central River Region North. Their intervention came at a time when it was really needed", said Mrs Small.

"To the Non State Actors - -Strengthening Programme staff, we say thank you. We confess that meeting the EU requirements initially was tough and was a challenge but with mutual recognition of each other's capacity, we have benefitted from the experiences shared, regular coordination and supervision. We can now boastfully say that our capacities have been built", she asserted.

She also send special appreciation to the government of The Gambia who she said have provided the conducive environment for the organisation to undertake its activities. "To the Ministry of Health, we have appreciated your partnership especially at community level to save lives of children and women", Small said.

"Her Excellency the US Ambassador Ms Pamela Ann White, your Embassy's conviction to human rights, gender equality and women's empowerment has been clearly demonstrated not only by the projects you supported but the moral support that you continuously give to the organisation is worth boosting of." She also commends the UNFPA whom they have collaborated with for over twenty years. She said they started collaborating with them when most organisations in The Gambia were unwilling to even utter the word FGM.
"We want to express special thanks to TANGO who supported the work of the organisation and frequently contributed energy, time and energy. She express gratitude to the National Authorising Office Support Unit (NAOSU), CPA, APGWA and like-minded organisations in the struggle, delegates from the Upper River Region, Central River Region, North Bank Region, Lower River \Region, the Fonis, the I Kombos and Greater Banjul we thank you immensely. Your presence is an indication of how much you are committed to the course. GAMCOTRAP realise that as an organisation we cannot do it single handed we surely need your support", she said.

Mrs. Small also sends special thanks to their Community based facilitators in the various regions, their efforts have been appreciated. To the traditional, print and electronic media, she said they appreciate your unending support for women's programmes. As the saying goes "information is power" so she said their contributions have demonstrated how much they have positively changed human behavior. To the Police Band, she said they say Bravo for being part of this historic moment.

• Gambia