The recent death of a one-month-old baby girl, allegedly due to female genital mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia, has ignited widespread condemnation. The baby was rushed to a Banjul hospital after experiencing severe bleeding but was sadly pronounced dead upon arrival. Activists and health officials are connecting her death to FGM, which remains a culturally entrenched practice despite being banned in The Gambia.
Outrage Erupts After Death of Infant Linked to Genital Mutilation in The Gambia
Outrage Erupts After Death of Infant Linked to Genital Mutilation in The Gambia
A tragic incident highlighting ongoing issues of female genital mutilation sparks public fury.
"Culture cannot justify such violence," stated the organization Women In Leadership and Liberation (WILL). In the wake of the tragedy, two women were arrested in connection with the case. Abdoulie Ceesay, the local MP, called for heightened protections for children from harmful practices, urging that the tragic loss of the infant should be a turning point in the country's commitment to safeguarding children's rights.
FGM involves the partial or total removal of a female's external genitalia and is often rationale through cultural beliefs and misconceptions regarding hygiene and marriageability. Alarmingly, The Gambia ranks among the nations with the highest FGM prevalence rates, as 73% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 have undergone the procedure, often before the age of six.
Fatou Baldeh, a survivor and founder of WILL, noted a concerning trend: increased FGM operations on infants, as parents believe young girls heal more swiftly. Despite being outlawed since 2015, there have only been two prosecutions related to FGM in the country, highlighting a significant gap in enforcement and societal change.
Calls for the decriminalization of FGM have emerged, although legislation aimed at repealing the ban was recently rejected by parliament. The practice, condemned in over 70 countries globally, persists notably in Muslim-majority regions, stressing the need for collaborative efforts to eradicate such harmful traditions in The Gambia and beyond.
FGM involves the partial or total removal of a female's external genitalia and is often rationale through cultural beliefs and misconceptions regarding hygiene and marriageability. Alarmingly, The Gambia ranks among the nations with the highest FGM prevalence rates, as 73% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 have undergone the procedure, often before the age of six.
Fatou Baldeh, a survivor and founder of WILL, noted a concerning trend: increased FGM operations on infants, as parents believe young girls heal more swiftly. Despite being outlawed since 2015, there have only been two prosecutions related to FGM in the country, highlighting a significant gap in enforcement and societal change.
Calls for the decriminalization of FGM have emerged, although legislation aimed at repealing the ban was recently rejected by parliament. The practice, condemned in over 70 countries globally, persists notably in Muslim-majority regions, stressing the need for collaborative efforts to eradicate such harmful traditions in The Gambia and beyond.
