The Executive Director of GAMCOTRAP and Members of the Media
By Fatou Sillah
The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP), supported by UNFPA, recently organized a day-long training session for media professionals from radio, television, and print outlets. The focus was on the impact of female genital mutilation (FGM) on women’s sexual and reproductive health.
The training aimed to enhance media professionals’ understanding of FGM, its health consequences, and its link to sexual and gender-based violence, promoting informed discussions on these critical issues.
Founded in 1984, GAMCOTRAP is a Gambian NGO dedicated to eliminating FGM and other harmful traditional practices. The organization advocates for women’s health and empowerment through community education.
During the opening ceremony, Imam Baba Leigh provided an overview of FGM:
“FGM is a deeply ingrained cultural practice that predates Islam. Initially, it wasn’t tied to religion, but rather used as a tool of control and jealousy. Let me share its origins, which are often overlooked but cannot be denied. Female genital mutilation is said to have begun with Hajara and Sarata, the two wives of Prophet Ibrahim (AS).
“Prophet Ibrahim, known as the father of the three Abrahamic religions and the ancestor of Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, lived for many years without a child. His first wife, unable to conceive, suggested he marry her servant in hopes of having a child. Out of jealousy, she mutilated the second wife, unaware that she had already conceived,” he explained.
He also talks about the importance of the media in raising awareness about FGM “Media personnel are the fastest unit to help development, fight corruption and to liberate people, that is why the almighty Allah SWT all his bigness and his greatness he swore on the pen. You see how big that is. So really, having you with us will be a great help to the process that we are doing. The process that they are doing is for everybody,” he said.
Dr. Isatou Touray, the executive director of GAMCOTRAP, encouraged the media to apply the knowledge gained from the training.
“This is your chance to fully engage with the purpose we’ve called you for. Choose wisely and ask the essential questions. We are committed to being transparent and will share a wealth of information with you. Additionally, I want you to grasp how FGM impacts the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls,” she said.
GAMCOTRAP works to raise awareness about the impact of harmful traditional practices on the health of girls and women, focusing on FGM, nutritional taboos, HIV/AIDS, early marriages, and wife inheritance. They also promote positive cultural practices that empower female sexuality and advocate for policies that protect and promote the rights of women and children.