Heartbroken Children Representatives Cry for Justice After Infant FGM/C Death

By Fatoumata Jaiteh

Just a day after the Gambia Police Force reported the death of a one-month-old baby girl, allegedly from Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision (FGM) on 10th August 2025, the Children's National Assembly of The Gambia (CNAG) issued a statement strongly condemning the act and calling on the “authorities to ensure that justice is served and that those found responsible face the full consequences of the law.”

The incident happened in Wellingara, according to a police statement. Based on the police’s preliminary findings, the infant was allegedly circumcised, which resulted in her death. Although she was rushed to Bundung Maternal and Child Health Hospital, she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Adding their call for stronger implementation The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (TANGO) has urged the “judiciary to apply the established sentencing guidelines for all FGM-related cases and Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) offences without fear or favour”. TANGO also called on the general population “to play their part in protecting children”.

Practising FGM/C in The Gambia is currently a criminal act under the Women’s Amendment Act 2015, Section 32A and B. It carries a punishment of life imprisonment if the practice leads to death, but if not, a punishment of 3 years imprisonment or a fine of D50,000 or both.

The police statement highlighted that three women have been arrested and charged, with one being charged for her death and two others bailed and charged for the practice, as reported by Askanwi Media last week. One of the suspects was remanded by Magistrate Sambou of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court and may face life imprisonment.

The CNAG, in their statement, expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the child’s death. They pointed out that “FGM is a harmful and dangerous practice with no medical or moral justification. It has no place in our society.”

The body further stresses that they “are deeply heartbroken by this incident and strongly condemn this brutal and inhumane act, which not only violates the rights of the child but also endangers their very survival.”

The CNAG is a child-led, non-statutory body established to advocate for the rights of children. It aims to ensure children's voices are heard and their needs addressed in national development.

Although there is a ban on FGM, the practice remains alarmingly prevalent in some communities, particularly in the rural areas. In 2024, the member for Foni Kansala, Hon. Almameh Gibba championed a private member’s bill to repeal the FGM/C ban in the Women’s Amendment Act 2015; however, his efforts were voted down by Parliament in its second reading.

After his attempt failed at the National Assembly, he filed a lawsuit with seven others at the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the ban on the practice.

Although numerous statements have been issued condemning the practice and calling for stiffer government enforcement of the FGM/C ban, a coalition of four organisations, including Concerned Citizens, Gambian Women are Free to Choose, the Women’s Association for Islamic Solidarity and the Islamic Enlightenment Society, have issued a statement in defence of the practice. In their two page statement, the group of organisations are urging the government to lift the ban and “adopt a regulated, medicalised framework where the practice could be performed by duly qualified and certified practitioners under hygienic and transparent conditions in order to safeguard the health and welfare of those concerned”.

In opposition to this, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and numerous civil society organisations, such as Men for Equality, Women in Liberation and Leadership (WILL), and the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ), amongst others, have issued statements calling for the government to take action to protect children from the unlawful practice.

Now, with this latest incident, there is a public outcry for the Act to be fully implemented, while debates around the FGM/C being a religious or harmful traditional practice continue.