Baby Dies in Gambia After Suspected FGM Procedure

Baby Dies in Gambia After Suspected FGM Procedure
Above: Pro Female Genital Mutilation protesters gather outside the National Assembly in Banjul on March 18, 2024. Image copyright: Muhamadou Bittaye/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Government-critical narrative

This tragic death proves the 2015 FGM ban isn't working and needs serious enforcement. With 73% of Gambian girls still undergoing this procedure and only one conviction in nearly a decade, the law is basically toothless. Parents are now cutting babies, thinking they'll heal faster and avoid detection — showing how desperate the situation has become.

Pro-government narrative

While The Gambia still has progress to make, its legal framework is solid, and parliament rightfully rejected attempts to overturn the FGM ban last year. This tragic incident shouldn't overshadow the progress made since 2015, when FGM was criminalized. Strong advocacy groups and lawmakers are already calling for justice, proving the system can work when properly applied.


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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.14.0

© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.14.0