The Gambia Family Planning Association (GFPA) recently organised a two-day international workshop on female genital mutilation (FGM), with the main objective of sharing information on new and promising research and programme development in tackling FGM.

The workshop was also held to review and develop strategies for policy and programme within the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and to develop an agenda for strengthening efforts at the regional level to address the issue of FGM.

The workshop brought together members of the IPPF from various countries such as Djibouti, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia.

In her remarks at the opening ceremony of the workshop, Ms Edele Thebaub of Unicef said that Unicef advocates for the protection of the rights of children and women including their right to be protected from violence, abuse and exploitation as well as from practices such as FGM and early marriage which, she added, though traditional but have been determined to be harmful and not in the best interest of the child.

She said further that Unicef views FGM as a form of violence against the child.

"It is painful both physically and emotionally and may lead to infection including the possibilities of contracting HIV," she said, noting that FGC [Female Genital Cutting] is a global concern and has now been considered as non-Islamic by the majority of people around the world.

 "In fact it predates Islam and there are Muslims who do not practice it, while there are non-Muslims who practice it," she noted.

For her part, Ms Naana Ofoo-Oyortey of the Central Office of the IPPF gave a global overview of the trends, the new policy and research on FGM.

Ms Ofoo-Oyortey also said the "term FGM is increasingly being resented" by some schools of thought and sectors of society as derogatory and judgemental.

"Female genital cutting (FGC) has emerged as a compromised option and considered as a more acceptable term within communities, " she said, adding that Unicef and other UN organisations however continue to use the term FGM/C. 

She also denounced health-risk behaviour, violation and discriminatory practices against women.

"The new positive environment on sexuality provided new opportunities to focus more on the sexuality dimension of FGM," she added.

Other speakers on the occasion included Mr. Salifu Jassey, Unicef child protection specialist, and Haddy Mboge Barrow of GFPA.