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Momodou
Denmark
11717 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Mar 2008 : 17:42:18
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75% of Gambian Women Are Subject To FGM-Says GAMCOTRAP Coordinator
By Amie Sanneh
The Coordinator of GAMCOTRAP, Dr. Isatou Touray, has said that 75% of Gambian women are subjected to FGM. Dr. Touray made these remarks recently when a group of journalists, who were undergoing an eight days training program on human rights, visited her office in Bakau.
Dr. Touray said that there is no recent statistics at the moment to show the trend but they believe it is on the decline.
“It is obviously on the decline,” says Dr. Touray. She explained that they have covered 63 communities in the country and that people have dropped down their knives against FGM, after being sensitized on its effects and implications, meaning that people who were practicing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) have stopped it.
The coordinator of Gamcotrap further said that the wind of change has come and that people are not aware of the effects FGM on them.
Dr. Touray explained that at the beginning the campaign was difficult on their side due to people’s resistance towards it. She said some people are ignorant of the issue, that another difficulty they were facing is to carry out publication of stories on FGM, which are totally different from what they are advocating for. Again another problem they are encountering, she said, is that the religious schools are not coming out to denounce FGM, due to earlier remarks they made about FGM. She pointed out that FGM has nothing to do with Islam.
Dr. Touray also added that at the beginning of the campaign there was no political will but now they have great political will. Touray pointed out that what they want is sustainability. She said women are vulnerable and are subjected to harmful traditional practices, early marriage and so on. She maintained that it is lack of awareness and sensitization which are leading to all these. The Gamcotrap Coordinator added that The Gambia belongs to all and that they are here for the development of all.
Gamcotrap was established in 1984 following a conference in Dakar where African women discussed issues affecting their rights such as harmful traditional practices.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 33/2008, 19 – 20 March 2008
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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mansasulu
997 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2008 : 16:30:52
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| There there go again, blowing a lot of hot with backing it up with substance! |
"...Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest..." Sura Al-Rad (Chapter 13, Verse 28)
...Gambian by birth, Muslim by the grace of Allah... |
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tamsier
United Kingdom
557 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2008 : 18:51:20
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She is right in saying this has nothing to do with islam. Africans [male and female]have been doing this long before islam. It is a general misconception that islam brought it into the diaspora,that is not correct. Further, it is the women themselves [e.g the mothers, grandmothers and aunts] who tend to force it on the women. True, the men sometimes do influence, but it is mainly the older women who force it upon the young. I think education should be directed to the women elders [who perform the surgery] - if she wants this practice stopped. I have three questions though:
1. what is she doing for the young boys. or is that she doesn't care about them?
2. how is she going to reconcile her wishes with ancient traditions so enshrined into people's psychy?
3. i would like to know where she got her figure from?
I am open minded on the subject. I hold no strong believes on the subject. |
Tamsier
Serere heritage. Serere religion. Serere to the end.
Roog a fa ha. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11717 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2008 : 19:28:42
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| Click on the image below and visit their website for more information. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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mansasulu
997 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2008 : 20:00:51
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| Tamsier, I am really interested where they are getting their figures as well. My guess is that these are souped up numbers just to raise alarm. I looked at their webpage and couldn't see anything that indicates that they have anything thing that will stand proper and vigorous scrutiny. You see it is easy to throw out numbers at people. Anybody can do that. |
"...Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest..." Sura Al-Rad (Chapter 13, Verse 28)
...Gambian by birth, Muslim by the grace of Allah... |
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inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2008 : 22:54:38
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| even 1% is 1% too much. just finished reading the book written by senegalese lady: Khady Koita and I cried. To live with pain rest of your life, the pain is not over when the wound has healed as I believe it is for men. |
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