Key Points
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Infant death reignites calls to enforce Gambia’s female genital mutilation ban.
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Political and cultural tensions fuel pushback against anti-FGM laws.
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Rights groups urge prosecution and stronger enforcement to prevent future tragedies.
The Gambia’s Banjul — Following the death of a baby girl who was allegedly connected to female genital mutilation (FGM), public indignation is growing in The Gambia, rekindling calls for the government to implement its 2015 ban on the practice.
The tragedy, according to rights organizations, medical professionals, and community activists, underscores the perils of female genital mutilation as well as the political reversals that jeopardize the advancements made against it.
The baby, who reportedly underwent FGM earlier this month, passed away from severe bleeding, infection, and trauma—complications that doctors say are typical in these situations.
According to a report by Africa-news, her passing has sparked a fresh national dialogue about the political, religious, and cultural conflicts surrounding the long-standing custom.
Calls to enforce the FGM ban have been renewed
Although FGM has been prohibited in The Gambia for almost ten years, the law has not been strictly enforced.
Some religious leaders are attempting to have the ban lifted on the grounds that it violates their cultural rights. However, the law’s supporters maintain that it is a matter of fundamental human rights and public health.
Women’s rights organizations are calling on authorities to bring charges against those responsible and make it clear that the law is still in effect, even though the government has not yet released a direct statement regarding this most recent death.
Progress against FGM is hampered by political pressure
Conservative groups have been putting more and more pressure on President Adama Barrow’s administration to relax the laws governing FGM. Rights activists claim that efforts to lift the ban run the risk of reversing years of community education and awareness campaigns.
International health organizations have already condemned the proposed amendments, which are scheduled for debate by Parliament later this year.
Reversing the ban would violate international commitments on women’s rights, the UN has warned on numerous occasions.
Communities divided between change and tradition
Although the prevalence of FGM has decreased in urban areas, the practice is still common in rural areas and is frequently performed on girls younger than five. Despite the health risks, many families view it as a cultural rite of passage.
Change, according to grassroots activists, will necessitate both intense cultural engagement and legal enforcement.
“Education is more important than criminalization,” stated Gambian midwife and activist Fatou Jobe. “It’s tragic that this baby died, but it must be a turning point.”
