By: Nyima Sillah
Human Rights Lawyer, Hassan Martin, has told lawmakers to consider FGM’s social impacts describing the debate as insignificant.
The rights activist told The Voice in an interviewfollowing the recent FGM debate that attracted thousands of activists across the world.
The bill which seeks to repeal the ban on FGMsurvived the second reading at the National Assembly on 18th March has now been referred to the Assembly’s ABC committee for further consultations leaving many in suspense of the outcome.
“It is reasonable to leave it as a private issue and a choice for the family involved. I urge the parliamentarians to vote with their conscience taking into consideration the social impact,” Martin stated.
He suggested that those engaging in the practice should owe a duty of care and be ready to take responsibility where the practice goes wrong.
The rights lawyer explains that there is the need to educate the populace on the issue and do a periodic review of the practice in society every 5years to evaluate the health implications for the person concerned.
“We advise women to do more study on women’s health, rather than to be dictated by some men with misplaced priorities. The issue of FGM to some of us is not of real concern, also it seems an insignificant debate that is hijacked by some nonentities with ulterior motives, making it an issue of social tension,” Martin pointed out.
He opined that women should have more say on the issue that affects them since there are no religious conclusions on the issue of women’s circumcision as claimed by most religious scholars.
However, he pointed out that in hindsight women are piercing, tattooing, and even using surgery on their body parts, adding in some peoples’ views, it will be fair and reasonable to repeal the law/ban.
