In The Gambia, a one-month-old girl died from female genital mutilation (FGM) in 2026, despite the practice having been banned since 2015. Activists successfully blocked a 2024 legislative effort to repeal the ban through survivor testimonies, lobbying, and leveraging rulings from Islamic institutions like Al-Azhar University. However, recent attempts to legalize FGM highlight growing challenges in maintaining progress against the practice. Globally, over 230 million girls and women have undergone FGM, though rates have declined significantly in recent years due to grassroots activism, community dialogues, and religious leaders condemning the practice. Despite this progress, funding for anti-FGM initiatives is dwindling, and some regions are seeing a resurgence of support for the practice under the guise of cultural preservation.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced view of the issue, highlighting both the successes of anti-FGM campaigns and the emerging challenges they face. It does not favor one side over another but rather outlines the complexities of the situation, including the role of civil society, religious institutions,
