Gambia's Ban on Female Genital Mutilation Faces New Challenge at Supreme Court
The Gambia's attempt to overturn a ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) is set to be heard by its supreme court, following a backlash against women's rights in the country and across the world.
A coalition of religious leaders and an MP has launched a case claiming that the law violates Gambians' constitutional rights to cultural and religious freedoms. The decision comes after two babies bled to death last year due to FGM, sparking outrage over the practice.
FGM is considered a grave violation of human rights and has been banned by the UN since 2012. However, it remains practiced in about 30 countries across Africa and Asia, often for cultural or religious reasons.
The country's current law makes it punishable to perform FGM with up to three years in prison, although the law was only enforced after a series of convictions in 2023. The enforcement has been met with opposition from some quarters, leading to calls for the ban to be lifted.
At the heart of this challenge is a dispute over what constitutes acceptable cultural practice and how far individual freedoms should extend. Opponents of the ban argue that it infringes on people's right to choose their own path in life and to express their culture freely.
However, advocates such as Fatou Baldeh say FGM is an issue of violence against women, citing its impact on physical and psychological health. "If this issue is still being debated at a national level, it shows us that women's rights are really regressing," she said.
Baldeh believes the practice is part of a global regression in women's rights, with recent attacks on abortion access in countries like the US and Iran being just as concerning.
The case before the supreme court comes hot on the heels of similar challenges to FGM bans in other countries. In Sierra Leone, a ruling by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) court of justice described the practice as "one of the worst forms of violence against women".
The Gambia's attempt to overturn a ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) is set to be heard by its supreme court, following a backlash against women's rights in the country and across the world.
A coalition of religious leaders and an MP has launched a case claiming that the law violates Gambians' constitutional rights to cultural and religious freedoms. The decision comes after two babies bled to death last year due to FGM, sparking outrage over the practice.
FGM is considered a grave violation of human rights and has been banned by the UN since 2012. However, it remains practiced in about 30 countries across Africa and Asia, often for cultural or religious reasons.
The country's current law makes it punishable to perform FGM with up to three years in prison, although the law was only enforced after a series of convictions in 2023. The enforcement has been met with opposition from some quarters, leading to calls for the ban to be lifted.
At the heart of this challenge is a dispute over what constitutes acceptable cultural practice and how far individual freedoms should extend. Opponents of the ban argue that it infringes on people's right to choose their own path in life and to express their culture freely.
However, advocates such as Fatou Baldeh say FGM is an issue of violence against women, citing its impact on physical and psychological health. "If this issue is still being debated at a national level, it shows us that women's rights are really regressing," she said.
Baldeh believes the practice is part of a global regression in women's rights, with recent attacks on abortion access in countries like the US and Iran being just as concerning.
The case before the supreme court comes hot on the heels of similar challenges to FGM bans in other countries. In Sierra Leone, a ruling by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) court of justice described the practice as "one of the worst forms of violence against women".
. It's like they're saying the same thing, banning FGM and then having a backslash, with people pushing for lifting the ban. It just goes on and on... We need to remember that human rights and women's rights should always come first 
. I get that there's cultural context to FGM, but like, come on! It's literally cutting off a baby girl's clitoris! That's not just an issue of individual freedom, that's a fundamental human rights violation. I think we need to draw some serious lines here. The fact that it's still practiced in 30 countries is like, totally unacceptable 
. We can't just let cultural practices override basic human decency.
. But at the same time, I don't think we should just ban it outright without considering the nuances of each situation. There must be a way to balance individual freedoms with protecting women's rights.
Maybe there are ways to educate people about FGM and its harm, rather than just punishing those who perform it. Or maybe we need stricter laws and enforcement... I don't know! All I know is that this case better not be a major setback for women's rights 
.
. Like, we already know that FGM is a major human rights issue, and it's still being debated? It's not about cultural freedom or individual choice - it's about basic respect for women's bodies and lives 
. If the UN has been saying it's banned since 2012, why are some people still trying to make excuses for it? 
And those babies that died last year... just heartbreaking 
. We need to stop making this issue about "what constitutes an acceptable cultural practice" and start focusing on protecting women's rights in the first place 
. I mean, come on! It's 2025 and we've already made huge progress in recognizing human rights, but the pushback is still there. The law in Gambia is clear - it's about protecting women from harm, not restricting their freedom to choose what happens to their bodies. We need to support these women like Fatou Baldeh who are speaking out against this brutality. 
. Like, no, it's a VIOLENCE issue period. I don't care if you say it's been part of your culture for centuries - that doesn't make it okay 
. Two babies bled out last year and NO ONE is doing anything about it? 
It's like the world is just sitting back and letting this happen to women everywhere... meanwhile, people are still having these "debates" about whether or not FGM should be banned 
. We gotta wake up folks! This is a human rights issue, plain and simple 
. We can't let people's freedoms extend into violence against women... that's just not okay 
.
It's horrific! On the other hand, I also think it's kinda unfair that we're not letting people choose their own path in life... but at what cost to our human rights and dignity? 
I guess it's all about finding a balance between cultural sensitivities and women's rights. But honestly, can't we just make FGM illegal everywhere already and be done with it? 
. Newsflash: it's not! 
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I don't get it. We're living in 2025, folks! We should be proud of our progress on women's rights, not trying to turn back the clock 
.
. The fact that some people still think otherwise is just sad 
. We need to find a balance between respecting people's cultures and protecting human rights. It's not about taking away freedoms, it's about ensuring everyone has equal access to healthcare and opportunities. The UN's stance on this is clear: FGM is a grave violation of human rights. We should be supporting women like Fatou Baldeh who are speaking out against this practice 