Gambia's parliament rejected Monday a bill that would have lifed a ban on female genital mutilation or FGM.
Lawmakers voted down all the clauses in the proposed law, Parliament Speaker Fabakary Tombong Jatta said.
For the first time in the West African nation, the bill against the ban sparked a public debate about FGM a custom dividing villages, families and parliament.
Almaneh Gibba, the lawmaker who submitted the bill to Gambia's parliament, said he was upholding cultural and religious prerogatives in the Muslim-majority country where FGM is widespread and deeply rooted.
Many Islamic scholars dispute his arguments.
The World Health Organization says FGM has no health benefits and can lead to excessive bleeding, shock, psychological problems and even death.
- - - - -
For more than 60-years, VOA's English to Africa (E2A) Service has been providing quality radio, TV, and digital programming to Africa. With a weekly audience of 37-million people, the E2A offers weekly coverage spanning various topics, including hard news, current affairs, sports, entertainment, health, and culture, with special focus on issues concerning youth and women.

Below is a list of our programs:

Radio: Africa News Tonight, Daybreak Africa, Nightline Africa, South Sudan in Focus, Health Chat, Up Front Africa, and Music Time in Africa.

Television: Africa 54, Straight Talk Africa, Our Voices, Red Carpet and Healthy Living.

» Subscribe to VOA Africa: www.youtube.co...
» Visit our website: voaafrica.com
» Follow us on Instagram: / voaafrica
» Follow Our Program Pages on X:
»» / voaafrica
»» / voastraighttalk
» Follow us on Facebook:
»» / voaafrica
»» / voastraighttalkafrica