Post by Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI)

On July 6, 2026, The Gambia Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver a landmark constitutional ruling regarding the legality of the country's 2015 ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The decision comes after years of organised resistance, political contestation, and legal challenges to the ban. In a new brief from CMI and the RightAct project, Dr. Satang Nabaneh examines how Gambian women's rights activists have responded to this backlash, and what lessons can be learned for defending women's rights in contexts where religious, customary, and state authorities overlap. Drawing on the struggle over the FGM ban from 2023–2026, the brief highlights four key lessons: ▪️Build broad coalitions before crises emerge ▪️Engage and challenge religious narratives used to justify harmful practices ▪️Adapt strategies as struggles move between communities, parliament, and courts ▪️Centre survivor voices while ensuring safety and support As rights movements around the world face growing backlash, the Gambian experience offers important insights into how hard-won gains can be protected. Read the full brief: https://lnkd.in/dgeH_6A6 #TheGambia #FGM #WomenRights #HumanRights