The recent death of a one-month-old baby girl in The Gambia has triggered a wave of outrage and calls for action against female genital mutilation (FGM). Rushed to a hospital in Banjul after suffering severe bleeding, she was pronounced dead upon arrival. Authorities believe her death is tied to the outlawed cultural practice of FGM, which has been abolished in The Gambia since 2015.
Leading non-governmental organization Women In Leadership and Liberation (WILL) condemned the act, stating, "Culture is no excuse, tradition is no shield; this is violence, pure and simple." In response to the tragic event, police arrested two women allegedly involved in the procedure. Abdoulie Ceesay, the local MP, emphasized that children must be safeguarded from harmful practices that threaten their health and dignity, urging the nation to renew its commitment to child protection.
The Gambia has one of the world's highest FGM rates, with 73% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 undergoing the procedure, often as infants. Fatou Baldeh, founder of WILL, revealed an alarming trend of increased FGM practices on babies, citing parents’ misguided beliefs about quicker healing and easier concealment from the law. Despite FGM's illegality, enforcement remains weak, with only two prosecutions since the ban's introduction.
While many nations outlaw FGM, it persists as a controversial issue, particularly across Muslim-majority countries in Africa.
