"Outrage in The Gambia: Baby Girl Dies After FGM – A Call to End the Horror!"
🇬🇲 A TRAGIC LOSS SPARKS NATIONAL OUTCRY! 🇬🇲
The heartbreaking death of a one-month-old baby girl, a victim of female genital mutilation (FGM), has ignited widespread outrage across The Gambia. Rushed to a hospital in the capital, Banjul, after suffering severe bleeding, the infant was tragically pronounced dead on arrival, according to police reports.
🩸 A CULTURAL CRIME:
While an autopsy is underway to determine the exact cause of death, many have linked this tragedy to the outlawed practice of FGM, also known as female circumcision. A leading non-governmental organization, Women In Leadership and Liberation (WILL), condemned the act, stating, “Culture is no excuse, tradition is no shield, this is violence, pure and simple.”
👮♀️ ARRESTS MADE:
In the wake of this horrific incident, two women have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the baby's death. The MP for the Kombo North District, Abdoulie Ceesay, emphasized the urgent need to protect children from harmful practices that rob them of their health, dignity, and life. “The loss of this innocent child must not be forgotten,” he declared, calling for a renewed commitment to safeguarding every child's right to life and dignity.
✂️ UNDERSTANDING FGM:
FGM involves the deliberate cutting or removal of a female's external genitalia, often justified by social acceptance, religious beliefs, and misconceptions about hygiene. In The Gambia, a staggering 73% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 have undergone the procedure, with many subjected to it before the age of six.
👶 A DISTURBING TREND:
Fatou Baldeh, founder of WILL, revealed to the BBC that there has been a disturbing increase in FGM procedures performed on infants in The Gambia. “Parents feel that if they cut their girls when they're babies, they heal quicker,” she explained, adding that the secrecy surrounding the practice has led to more parents opting for this horrific procedure at a young age.
🚫 A LEGAL BATTLE:
FGM has been illegal in The Gambia since 2015, with penalties including fines and jail terms of up to three years for perpetrators, and life sentences if a girl dies as a result. However, the enforcement of this law has been weak, with only two prosecutions and one conviction recorded in 2023.
📜 A PUSH FOR CHANGE:
Despite the ban, a strong lobby group has emerged advocating for the decriminalization of FGM, with legislation aimed at repealing the ban voted down in parliament last year. FGM remains a deeply entrenched practice in many parts of Africa, particularly in Muslim-majority countries like The Gambia, despite being banned in over 70 countries worldwide.
💔 A CALL TO ACTION:
The tragic death of this innocent baby girl serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to eradicate FGM and protect the rights of women and girls. As the nation grapples with this heartbreaking loss, the call for change has never been more critical.