Several female circumcisers representing cluster villages in The Gambia recently took solemn oath denouncing female circumcision at a well attended ceremony organised by GAMCOTRAP at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

Eighteen heroines against female genital mutilation in the Gambia dropped their knives and vowed not to practice FGM but to take leadership responsibilities to protect and promote the rights of women and children in The Gambia.

In her speech, Dr Isatou Touray, the executive director of GAMCOTRAP, said her group had engaged the citizenry with a series of sensitisation and awareness creating activities regarding traditional practices. She said it was to protect the sexual and reproductive health rights of women and children against harmful practices and other degrading practices that affect the well being of women and the girl child.

Dr Isatou Touray said it was a challenge to open discussion on jealously guarded secrets about FGM, which she said was wrongly associated with religion thus making their discussion more sensitive for women’s rights activists to engage in. She said with effective social mobilisation, tact and frankness, FGM is now subject to debate among different sectors and it was no longer a taboo.

Dr Isatou Touray said: “As a result of tenacious advocacy and training activities, eighteen circumcisers have been motivated to publicly declare to the world and Gambians in particular to stop the practice”. These eighteen women she said have very useful roles and responsibilities in their various communities and are role models.

Dr Isatou Touray said that it was their first public declaration to be made by the actual circumcisers.

After pronouncing their oath publicly as administered by Fatou Bojang, the youngest among the circumcisers and the eighteen, came out with their instruments depositing them in front of the dignitaries. Each was presented with a certificate by Joseph D. Stafford, the US Ambassador to The Gambia, and other dignitaries.

Speaking on behalf of the Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy, Dr Tamsir Mbowe Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare said the day marked a very important day in their continuous assessment of the socio-cultural institution of female circumcision.

Dr Mbowe commended the achievements that came through long years of participatory community  sensitization and grassroots mobilisation mediated through tact, blunt frankness as well as recognition and respect for cultural differences made possible by the true spirit of cross cultural tolerance, a hall mark of participatory democracy. He congratulated GAMCOTRAP for all they were doing to improve lives. He also thanked those circumcisers who laid their knives down. Other speakers included MS. Amie David, Programme coordinator SCF and Dr Nestor Shivute, WHO Resident representative. There was a statement by the Supreme Islamic Council.

There was drama by GAMCOTRAP Youth Advocacy Group. Amie Bojang Sissoho ,Programme coordinator  GAMCOTRAP also made a statement.