The death of a one-month-old baby girl in The Gambia because of female genital mutilation (FGM) has reignited public outrage. However, a bitter experience suggests that this grief will soon fade into another unaddressed tragedy. Despite the country’s 2015 ban on FGM through the amendment of the Women’s Act, enforcement remains weak, and political commitment or will appears absent. Harm is harm, and the death of a defenceless child should never be accepted as normal. 

Yet in The Gambia, where death is often dismissed through spiritual fatalism, the state’s failure to protect vulnerable- and often uninformed- girls and women reveals a systemic apathy hidden behind cultural and religious justifications. Such justifications reflect the weakness of a nation, perpetuating harm through inaction, and actively obstructing meaningful social progress.

In my view, FGM is not an act of cultural misunderstanding, it is a barbaric human rights abuse. I do not believe that the Women’s Act of 2010, which was amended to criminalise FGM was ambiguous. It sets clear penalties, yet its impact is stifled by lack of enforcement, social tolerance, complicity of community silence and the tragedy of state to protect the defenceless it has a duty to protect. 

The amendment provides for accountability; while failure to report FGM is a criminal act, fines like D10,000 seem small when lives can be harmed and lost. In practice, the state remains toothless, leaving its daughters to be harmed in silence, shielded by a toxic mixture of ideology/culture, and misinformation- often pedalled by discredited and miseducated religious leaders some of whom have dined and slept with the devil.

It is a tragedy that these discredited religious leaders still find an audience, highlighting how quickly Gambians seem to forget or condone past harms. Thus, there is no need to wonder why we repeat history.

While grassroots education, cross-border cooperation (notably with Senegal), and community sensitisation seem necessary, they cannot substitute for bold political commitment and action of the type that can never be obtained under the current government. 

The Gambian government’s failure to act decisively, despite many international legal commitments and support, seriously underscores its utter lack of seriousness.  

The Gambia has been a member of the United Nations since 1965 and has ratified key treaties such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.  

Our country has repeatedly fallen short in turning many paper commitments into protective realities for its people, the consequences for which are tragedy after tragedy without any end in sight. These are unforgettable and unforgiveable crimes that must stop and once ended, must never be allowed to return.

Much harm is caused by FGM, such as obstetric and neonatal complications, urological complication, gynaecological complications, sexual health complications, mental health complications, immediate health complications- e.g., difficulty urinating, infections, fevers, swelling in the genital area, wound healing problems- for further details on the harms caused by FGM, see here, here and here. 

More data over time has allowed the UN’s stance on FGM to evolve over decades- from quiet concern in 1952 to strong condemnation. From the 1979 Khartoum seminar through to the adoption of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2015, the UN has consistently framed FGM as a violation of bodily integrity, health, and the dignity of man. 

The UN has been involved in raising awareness about the dangers of FGM through resolutions. The UNFPA–UNICEF joint programme emphasises that FGM is not a cultural issue but a form of gender-based violence, which is outlawed under international law and human rights instruments– treaties that, at least on paper, our country has demonstrably ratified.

The UN makes it clear that ending FGM is not optional; that it is essential to upholding basic human rights, gender equality, and safeguarding health. Despite the existence of relevant laws, the continued practice of FGM in countries like The Gambia points to a failure of national responsibility- not due to a lack of adequate international support, but rather a failure to responsibly utilise the resources to take the necessary actions, including raising awareness in a sustained manner. 

While the UN offers frameworks, global solidarity, and resources, national governments have an obligation to protect their daughters. Our government is happy to stretch out the begging bowl on our behalf to set up committees, hire consultants, and draft bills but is not committed to using the resources acquired to do what is necessary to protect its citizens in a sustained manner.

Despite the essential roles of community engagement, cultural education, survivor advocacy, and cross-sector collaboration, progress in addressing FGM in The Gambia- even with UNFPA presence and support since 1972- remains disappointingly slow, especially considering that some 70% of women aged 15-49 in the country have undergone some form of FGM in 2019/2020. 

Clearly, as the 2024 SDF Forum warned, without urgent acceleration, the goal to eliminate FGM by 2030 (Target 5.3) is at risk of being missed- especially considering that some 45% of women aged 15-45 in The Gambia believe FGM should continue. 

But consider this: with a total literacy rate of 59%- and 51% for girls- and a severe lack of foundational skills in reading, numeracy and school completion, particularly affecting girls in rural areas of The Gambia where FGM seems prevalent, one must wonder how many of the women would still support the practice if the state had not failed them. And we must not forget that most of the cutting/FGM happens before the age of 15, without informed consent.

Sadly, The Gambia’s tragedy lies not just in the death of one child, but in what seems like the collective shrug of a state unwilling and too weak to act. The laws on FGM are not enforced; many of our daughters suffer and die while inept officials hide behind cultural rhetoric and empty spiritual platitudes. If The Gambia continues to treat the harm caused by FGM and infant deaths caused by it as fate instead of state failure, it will remain among those nations unfit to meet the 2030 goal of ending FGM.