Target: The Gambia President Yahya Jammeh
Goal: Applaud the ban against female genital mutilation in The Gambia.
Female genital mutilation has been banned in The Gambia, thanks in part to petitions like ForceChange’s Stop Practice of Female Genital Mutilation, joining 19 other African countries with the same ban. The Gambia President Yahya Jammeh said the ban is effective immediately.
Female genital mutilation involves cutting female genitalia to remove the labia and clitoris, often leading to health complications like bleeding, infections, vaginal pain and infertility. In The Gambia, 76 percent of women have been subject to this horrific practice. With this new ban, women will no longer live in fear and suffering because of this dangerous practice.
The ban is a huge step for women’s rights activists. Now a law just needs to be written up to make the ban official with consequences if the law is broken.
Applaud the banning of female genital mutilation in The Gambia that will protect thousands of women and girls.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear President Jammeh,
You recently announced that you will be outlawing female genital mutilation in your country. Many are saying that what you did is brave considering it is election season and there is a lot of controversy surrounding this issue. With this decision, you put the health and well-being of women and girls across your country first, and that is the best thing you could have done.
This practice only harms girls and gives them life-long health problems. Now girls will no longer have to live with the fear of genital mutilation being a harsh reality. I applaud you for banning this practice and protecting girls across The Gambia.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Jurgen
