*Circumcisers Drop Their Knives*

*FOROYAA Newspaper* (Serrekunda)
NEWS
7 May 2007
Posted to the web 7 May 2007

By Amie Sillah & Annia Gaye

At a colourful ceremony on 5 May 2007, GAMCOTRAP, with local and
international partners, celebrated the dropping of knives by eighteen
circumcisers across the length and breadth of The Gambia.

GAMCOTRAP, a Women's Rights NGO, promotes women's social, political,
economic and cultural rights. Its also focuses on sexual and reproductive
health rights. The organisation creates awareness on traditional practices
and aims at the presentation of beneficial practices as well as the
elimination of harmful traditional practices that are inimical to the
wellbeing of women and children, particularly the girl-child.

Among the objectives the organisation uphold are:

(1) To carry out research into traditional practices that affects the sexual
and reproductive health of women and girl children in The Gambia.

(2) To identify and promote traditional practices that improve the status of
girl children and women.

(3) To create awareness on the effects of harmful traditional practices on
the health of girl-children and women, in particular, FGM, nutritional
taboos, child/early marriages and wife inheritance etc.

Dr. Isatou Touray, Executive Director GAMCOTRAP, spoke about their
organisation.

She said it was a great challenge to open discussion on jealously guarded
secrets about FGM which was wrongly associated with religion, thus making
the debate more sensitive for women's rights activists to engage. She
continued, "However, with effective social mobilization, tact and frankness,
the topic is now subjected to debate amongst different sectors of society.
It is no longer a taboo." She congratulated their donors, Save the Children,
Sweden based, in Dakar. She said they used the Rights Based Approach (RBA)
in addressing traditional practices, women's rights and gender based
violence.

She listed the target group they have trained. National Assembly members,
religious and cultural leaders, women groups, circumcisers, herbalists and
journalists, among other critical targets.

She congratulated the Gambia government for creating the enabling
environment by signing the CRC, CEDAW, AU Women Protocol and the drafting of
the current Women Bill, where civil society organisations are calling for
law reforms concerning women's rights.

Dr. Isatou Touray appealed, through Dr. Tamsir Mbowe, SoS for Health and
Social Welfare representing the Vice President, for the enactment of a law
to protect the gains already achieved concerning harmful traditional
practices.

WHO country representative, Dr. Nestor Shivute made a statement.

He explained about FGM or Female Circumcision. "It comprises all procedures
involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other
injury to the female sexual organs, whether for cultural, religious or other
non-therapeutic reasons." He tabulated the long term complications ranging
from obstruction, haemorrhage (bleeding) virginal fistula (hole), sexual
pain, etc.

He said an estimated 100 - 400 million women and girls especially in Africa
undergo some form of genital cutting. A further 2 million girls, the
majority of whom are in Africa, are at risk annually to undergo the
operation. Dr. Shivute said FGM is recognised as a form of violence against
women.

He commended GAMCOTRAP, government and the partners for making the
celebration possible.

Dr. Tamsir Mbowe, SoS Health and Social Welfare deputized for the Vice
President and SoS Women Affairs.

He said the day marked a very important aspect of our continuous assessment
of the socio-cultural institution of female circumcision; that it's a mark
of increasing maturity to subject the values and taboo surrounding this
institution; that our indigenous culture has been held in high esteem in
some quarters but that the surgical aspects of circumcision have been
attributed to be causal factors of some health hazards. "The decision to
abandon the surgical aspect is commendable" , he said. He said the decision
to abandon the practice should not extend to the denigration of the
education, traditional wisdom and knowledge identified with the process of
socialization. He said "we all want good health, the absence of ailments and
no willful damaging harm to any of our organs".

However, let us not throw away the baby with the birth water."

He congratulated GAMCOTRAP for not only the promotion of a democratic
culture but also for the development orientation of their work, indicated by
piloting with the concerned circumcisers on alternative employment
opportunities. He also commended GAMCOTRAP's linkage with relevant
institutions and partners in and outside the country.

He assured them of government's continuous support.

Mrs. Ame David, Programme coordinator of Save the Children- Sweden,
representative from Dakar, a GAMCOTRAP donor partner, made a statement. She
congratulated GAMCOTRAP, national and international partners, Gambia
government and everybody for making the celebration possible.

Part two of the programme dealt with the swearing in ceremony.

A general statement for appeal to stop FGM was made by Olimatou Sissoho from
the Greater Banjul area and Tuti Njie from the provinces. Ms. Fatou Bojang
made a general statement on behalf of the circumcisers.

Certificates were awarded to Ex-circumcisers and village heads who assisted
in the struggle for the eradication of the practice..

Present were diplomats, government representatives, journalists, activists,
women groups and people from different walks of life.

Mrs. Amie Bojang Sissoho, programme coordinator GAMCOTRAP, gave the vote of
thanks.

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Copyright (c) 2007 FOROYAA Newspaper. All rights reserved. Distributed by
AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
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