One of the women is a circumciser and the others are the mothers of two children, who were circumcised amongst eight. They were each fined D15,000 in default to serve a year each behind bars.
Welcoming the recent court conviction, MJFC in a release stated: “The Malick Jallow Foundation for Children (MJFC) welcomes the recent and first judicial decision enforcing the penal ban on female genital mutilation in The Gambia, which came into force since 2016 by Magistrate Kanjura B. Sambou of the Central River Region, and conviction of three perpetrators to a fine of GMD15,000.00 each or in default to serve one year imprisonment."
The release added: “MJFC, whose founder Malick H.B Jallow significantly participated and provided technical expertise through the European Union Access to Justice project in reforming the law on FGM-C in The Gambia, is pleased with this development and congratulates all the stakeholders who collaborated to ensure enforcement of the law banning FGM-C in this matter and hope it sets an inspiring precedent moving forward.”
The Foundation also acknowledges the judicial courage and stance in enforcing the law on such a contentious, controversial and deeply-seated practice.
In conclusion, the foundation calls for greater legal reforms concerning the practise through the National Assembly.
