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Girls in The Gambia as young as four months old are blindfolded, pinned down, and forced to have their genitals cut off — and soon this horror could be completely legal. Gambian politicians want to reverse the country’s ban on female genital mutilation. FGM survivors are trying to save the ban and protect the girls who haven’t been cut yet. Those brave women are asking us to join the fight with a massive global outcry. We have less than 90 days to act, so sign now and Avaaz will work with Gambian groups to bring our voices to the decision-makers!
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Dear friends,
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They never had a choice.
Almost a million girls in The Gambia have been forced to have their clitoris cut off, and sometimes their vaginal opening sewn up. And they were warned that if they told, they’d be cut again.
We can help protect the millions more who haven’t been cut yet.
The Gambia has banned this horror since 2015, but now politicians want to make cutting little girls legal again. And it’s men making the decision – 91% of Gambian MPs are men.
We have less than 90 days to stop them. The Gambian government is keen to protect its international image and strong tourism economy, and local organisations tell us that a global outcry will make a massive impact! Sign now and we’ll work together to bring our global call to the corridors of parliament!
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Legal protections are massively important in stopping the horror. Just last August, three women were convicted in The Gambia for performing FGM. And this is why some politicians are trying so hard to kill the ban – they know it has a real impact.
Twenty percent of The Gambia’s economy is based on tourism and it’s building its image as an emerging democracy. So the government is desperate to protect its positive international reputation.
Working with groups on the ground, Avaaz has a plan to show Gambian leaders that reversing the ban and making it legal to cut little girls would tank The Gambia’s international reputation and endanger its tourism revenue.
Together, we can protect the girls who face being cut!
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Avaaz members have fought for the rights of women and girls everywhere – together we have stood up for reproductive rights, for a definition of rape based on consent, for girls’ education and against child marriage. Now we have a chance to be there for girls in The Gambia right when they need us most – let’s do it!
With hope and determination,
Nate, Huiting, Antonia and the whole Avaaz team
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