Durojaye, EbenezerNabaneh, Satang2021-09-272021-09-272021Durojaye, E., & Nabaneh, S. (2021). Addressing female genital cutting/mutilation (FGC/M) in The Gambia: Beyond Criminalization. Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Africa: Constraints and Opportunities, 115–131. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003175049-89781003175049https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003175049-8http://hdl.handle.net/10566/6824The purpose of this chapter is to examine the viability of the use of criminal sanction to address FGC/M in general. It then examines the nexus between FCG/M and human rights and discusses the reasons often adduced to support use of criminal law to address FGC/M. Furthermore, it focuses on the amendment to the Women’s Act in The Gambia, which prohibits FGC/M. The paper evaluates the utility of the approach adopted by the Gambian government vis-a-vis its obligation under the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women (African Women’s Protocol). The paper concludes by noting that while the prohibition of FGC/M through sanction is important, such an approach will fail to achieve its desired aim of reducing the incidence of this practice unless other complementary measures are adopted by states.enFemale genitalGambiaHuman rightsCriminal lawWomen’s ActBook chapter