Women constitute half the population of the world. In the same vein half of the world’s population is under 30. There are only three women representatives in the National Assembly in The Gambia out of 58 National Assembly members.
What unites Muslims is the five pillars of their faith and Muslim elders should teach Muslims how to unite on the basis of the five pillars of their faith regardless of whether or not they practice FGM once the five pillars of their faith are adhered to. It is taught by their faith that they could go to heaven. Hence FGM should not divide Muslims.
The women in the world are a marginalized group and should unite to fight all discrimination against women. They should be taught that there are only three women parliamentarians in The Gambia and should not come to parliament as groups divided by FGM.
Instead those women should be united so that there will be more women parliamentarians to help make laws that are in favour of the welfare of women.
The population of the world is youthful. The youth should be taught that there are many states, cultures in the world, in their millions, who see FGM as a taboo. Their differences should not lead them to be hostile to each other.
Like all other cultures, they should share information and knowledge about them.
One basic realisation that binds all the women, youths and religions of the world is the understanding that FGM is a cultural practice. The basic principle governing cultural practice is that it should not be harmful to the human being. Hence the debate should be centred on the principle whether FGM is harmful or not. This does not need any emotion. It does not need any mobilization or campaign. What it needs is knowledge of the facts.
Hence all those decision makers and those who participate in influencing decision must be bound in their words and action by the pursuit of truth in good faith in the interest of human beings. They must be interested in the facts and nothing but the fact whether FGM is harmful to women or not. Let the facts be discussed without emotion and save the peace of the nation and the world. This is the duty of all elders, decision makers and citizens if we are to survive as a nation in peace.
