A prominent Gambian feminist has condemned the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) following the death of a one-month-old baby girl who allegedly succumbed to severe bleeding after undergoing the procedure.
Two women have been arrested in connection with the incident, which occurred in Wellingara, Kombo North Urban District. The baby was declared dead shortly after arriving at Edward Francis Small University Hospital.
Despite The Gambia’s 2015 ban on FGM, which carries fines and prison terms, enforcement has been weak, with only two prosecutions to date.
The activist’s denunciation has renewed calls for stronger action to protect children from harmful traditional practices.
The feminist’s remarks were echoed by the Women in Leadership and Liberation (WILL) NGO, which labelled the act as violence and rejected cultural and traditional justifications for the practice.
The Gambia National Children’s Assembly also condemned the tragedy, calling FGM a brutal violation of children’s rights.
The Gambia remains one of the ten African countries with the highest prevalence of the practice, affecting 73% of women and girls aged 15 to 49.
Last year, supporters of FGM, including imams, staged an unsuccessful campaign to overturn the ban, vowing to continue their efforts.
