Activists call for renewed efforts to combat the illegal practice after the infant's death casts a shadow over Gambian traditions.
Outrage Erupts Over Infant's Death Linked to Female Genital Mutilation in The Gambia
Outrage Erupts Over Infant's Death Linked to Female Genital Mutilation in The Gambia
Public outcry intensifies after a tragic case of FGM ends in tragedy for a one-month-old girl.
In The Gambia, the tragic death of a one-month-old girl following female genital mutilation (FGM) has ignited a widespread outcry among citizens and activists. The infant succumbed to severe bleeding shortly after being subjected to the illegal practice and was pronounced dead upon her arrival at a hospital in the capital, Banjul. While an autopsy is pending, many attribute her untimely demise to the act of FGM, which remains outlawed in the West African nation.
The non-governmental organization Women In Leadership and Liberation (WILL) expressed their horror, stating, "Culture is no excuse, tradition is no shield, this is violence, pure and simple." Following the incident, two women were taken into custody on suspicion of participation in the child's death. Abdoulie Ceesay, the MP for the Kombo North District, emphasized the urgent need to protect vulnerable children from practices that jeopardize their health and lives. He insisted that this heartbreaking loss should prompt a national commitment to child safety and dignity.
FGM involves the partial or complete removal of female external genitalia, a practice often justified by social customs, religion, and misconceptions surrounding hygiene and marriageability. Gambia ranks among the 10 countries with the highest prevalence of FGM, affecting 73% of women and girls aged 15 to 49, with many undergoing the procedure before turning six.
WILL founder Fatou Baldeh highlighted a worrying trend of parents opting to perform FGM on infants, believing that an early age promotes quicker healing and greater concealment from authorities. Despite laws prohibiting FGM since 2015, there have been minimal prosecutions, with only two cases resulting in a single conviction this year. A strong push for the decriminalization of FGM faces obstacles, as a proposed repeal of the ban was rejected in parliament last year. FGM is already outlawed in more than 70 countries globally, yet it remains prevalent in many Muslim-majority regions, including The Gambia.
The non-governmental organization Women In Leadership and Liberation (WILL) expressed their horror, stating, "Culture is no excuse, tradition is no shield, this is violence, pure and simple." Following the incident, two women were taken into custody on suspicion of participation in the child's death. Abdoulie Ceesay, the MP for the Kombo North District, emphasized the urgent need to protect vulnerable children from practices that jeopardize their health and lives. He insisted that this heartbreaking loss should prompt a national commitment to child safety and dignity.
FGM involves the partial or complete removal of female external genitalia, a practice often justified by social customs, religion, and misconceptions surrounding hygiene and marriageability. Gambia ranks among the 10 countries with the highest prevalence of FGM, affecting 73% of women and girls aged 15 to 49, with many undergoing the procedure before turning six.
WILL founder Fatou Baldeh highlighted a worrying trend of parents opting to perform FGM on infants, believing that an early age promotes quicker healing and greater concealment from authorities. Despite laws prohibiting FGM since 2015, there have been minimal prosecutions, with only two cases resulting in a single conviction this year. A strong push for the decriminalization of FGM faces obstacles, as a proposed repeal of the ban was rejected in parliament last year. FGM is already outlawed in more than 70 countries globally, yet it remains prevalent in many Muslim-majority regions, including The Gambia.
