The death of a one-month-old baby girl in The Gambia, believed to be the result of female genital mutilation (FGM), has ignited national and international outrage, renewing urgent calls to end the harmful practice. The tragedy occurred in the Kombo North District when the infant, suffering from severe bleeding, was rushed to a hospital in the capital city, Banjul. Despite efforts to save her, doctors pronounced her dead on arrival. Police have confirmed that an autopsy is underway to determine the exact cause of death, though widespread speculation points to complications arising from FGM, also known as female circumcision.
Authorities have arrested two women in connection with the case, and investigations are ongoing. The horrific incident has prompted strong condemnation from human rights advocates, government officials, and civil society groups, who stress that cultural traditions cannot justify acts that cause irreparable harm to women and girls.
“Culture is no excuse, tradition is no shield this is violence, pure and simple,” said Women In Leadership and Liberation (WILL), a prominent non-governmental organisation, in a statement. WILL’s founder, Fatou Baldeh, expressed deep concern over the growing trend of performing FGM on infants in The Gambia. According to her, some parents believe cutting babies will allow for faster healing, while also making it easier to conceal the procedure from authorities due to their young age.
Abdoulie Ceesay, Member of Parliament for Kombo North District, condemned the act and called for a renewed commitment to protecting children from harmful traditional practices. “The loss of this innocent child must not be forgotten. Let it mark a turning point and a moment for our nation to renew its unwavering commitment to protecting every child’s right to life, safety, and dignity,” he said.
FGM involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia, often carried out for reasons such as social acceptance, religious beliefs, myths about hygiene, the preservation of virginity, perceived marriageability, or the enhancement of male sexual pleasure. In The Gambia, the practice remains alarmingly prevalent. Statistics show that 73% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 have undergone the procedure, with many subjected to it before the age of six.
Although FGM was officially banned in The Gambia in 2015, with offenders facing fines, up to three years in prison, and life sentences if a girl dies as a result, enforcement remains weak. Since the ban’s enactment, there have been only two prosecutions and one conviction, recorded in 2023. Alarmingly, a strong lobby advocating for the decriminalisation of FGM has emerged in the country. However, an attempt to repeal the law last year was defeated in parliament.
The Gambia ranks among the top ten countries in the world with the highest rates of FGM, despite the global movement to eradicate the practice. It is banned in more than 70 countries worldwide, yet it persists in many African nations, particularly those with Muslim-majority populations.
As the investigation into the baby’s death continues, human rights activists and global organisations are urging The Gambia to strengthen its enforcement of anti-FGM laws, increase public awareness about the dangers of the practice, and provide stronger protections for girls at risk. This tragic case has underscored the urgent need for action, as campaigners warn that without firm measures, more young lives could be lost to a practice the world has long recognised as a grave violation of human rights.
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