The Gambia – Submission to the Human Rights Council at the 48th Session of the Universal Periodic Review, July 2024

Protect Anti-FGM Legislation:
The Gambia must safeguard the Women’s (Amendment) Act, 2015, which criminalizes FGM, by preventing any repeal efforts and strengthening it to explicitly prohibit medicalized and cross-border FGM.

Strengthen Enforcement and Accountability:
Improve implementation of anti-FGM and child marriage laws by increasing prosecutions, training justice sector officials, and holding violators accountable, including those who incite or fund FGM practices.

Increase Public Awareness and Community Engagement:
Launch sustained public education campaigns and engage religious and traditional leaders to shift cultural norms and promote the abandonment of harmful practices like FGM and child marriage.

Close Legal and Policy Gaps:
Address enforcement weaknesses, expand data collection systems, and ensure robust marriage and birth registration, particularly in rural areas, to prevent underage and unregistered marriages.