One-Month-Old Baby Dies After FGM in Gambia, Two Women Arrested

The death of a one-month-old baby girl in The Gambia, linked to female genital mutilation (FGM), has reignited outrage and calls for stronger enforcement of the country's 2015 FGM ban. Despite the law criminalizing the practice, which affects approximately 73 percent of women and girls aged 15 to 49, FGM remains deeply rooted in Gambian culture, often justified by religious and traditional beliefs. Two women are currently in custody as investigations continue into the infant's death, which involved severe bleeding after the procedure. Activists and organizations like Women In Leadership and Liberation (WILL) and Equality Now emphasize that FGM is a form of gender-based violence, not a cultural tradition, and warn that pending legal challenges to the ban could undermine protections for women and girls. Efforts to repeal the ban have faced opposition, but sustained education, community engagement, and political will are deemed essential to eradicate the practice. The tragedy has prompted renewed demands for accountability and a national commitment to protect the health and dignity of girls in The Gambia.