Gambia bans female genital mutilation

Gambia's parliament has passed a bill banning female genital mutilation and setting strict penalties for offenders.

The new law says a person who engages in female circumcision could face up to three years in prison or a fine of $US50,000 ($A68,670).

The bill, passed by parliament on Monday, comes after President Yahya Jammeh condemned the practice in November.

Female genital mutilation is practised in more than half of African countries. It entails the complete or partial removal of the external genitalia of women and girls for non-medical reasons.

In 2010, female genital mutilation was carried out on nearly 80 per cent of Gambian women and girls aged 15 to 49, according to UK-based charity 28 Too Many.

Originally published as Gambia bans female genital mutilation