Nevertheless, out of the eight ethnic groups, seven of them engage in the practice. It is a practice that is believed to ensure premarital virginity and marital fidelity. The World Health Organization has recognized it as a violation of the human rights of young girls and women. In 2015 former  President Jammeh banned FGM, ordering anyone who was caught performing would be sentenced to jail; however, there is no law stating it has been officially banned.