Three Weeks to Save a Generation: Gambian Girls Fight to Defend the Ban on Female Genital Mutilation

By the time Fatou Baldeh speaks of what happened to her, her voice is steady, but the memory is not. She was a child when she was pinned to the ground and cut, a moment she says “changes you forever.” It is a story shared by millions of girls across Africa, and today, it is at the centre of a legal and moral battle that could determine the future of countless others.

In The Gambia, a small West African nation often praised for its resilience and reform, a critical test is looming. In just three weeks, the country’s Supreme Court will hear a case that could either uphold or weaken the 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). For survivors like Baldeh, the stakes could not be higher.“This is not just about the law,” she says. “It is about whether girls like me will continue to suffer in silence, or finally be protected.”A Practice Rooted in SilenceFGM, the partial or total removal of female genitalia for non-medical reasons, remains widespread across parts of Africa despite growing international condemnation.

In The Gambia, the numbers are stark: approximately one in two girls and more than 70 percent of women have undergone the procedure, often before the age of five.For many communities, the practice is deeply embedded in tradition, seen as a rite of passage or a prerequisite for marriage.

But activists and survivors argue that culture cannot justify harm.“Tradition is not a shield,” Baldeh insists. “This is violence, pure and simple.”Medical experts agree. FGM can cause severe bleeding, infections, complications in childbirth, and long-term psychological trauma. In some cases, it is fatal. Just last year, two baby girls in The Gambia died after undergoing the procedure, reigniting national outrage and grief.Yet despite these realities, opposition to the ban has been gaining ground.

The Legal Battle Ahead

Pro-FGM groups, including influential religious and community leaders, are now challenging the ban in the Supreme Court. They argue that the law infringes on cultural and religious freedoms, a claim that has sparked fierce debate across the country.

For activists, the court case represents more than a legal dispute; it is a turning point.“If the ban is weakened, it will send a dangerous message, not just here, but across the region,” says a local campaigner working with survivors. “It could embolden those who want to roll back protections for girls elsewhere.”

• The implications extend far beyond The Gambia’s borders. Across Africa, countries are grappling with how to balance cultural practices and human rights. A reversal or weakening of the ban could undermine years of progress in the fight against FGM. 

Survivors Speak Out

In the lead-up to the hearing, Baldeh and other survivors are mobilising. Working alongside global advocacy group Avaaz, they are organising a nationwide campaign to bring women to the capital, Banjul, ensuring their voices are heard both inside and outside the courtroom.Their strategy is clear: combine grassroots testimony with international pressure.“We want the judges, the government, and the world to hear us,” Baldeh says. “We are not statistics. We are living proof of the harm this causes.”

The campaign also aims to flood the media with stories—real, personal accounts that challenge the normalization of FGM and expose its consequences. For many survivors, speaking out is an act of courage. In communities where FGM is widely accepted, challenging it can lead to stigma, isolation, or even threats. 

Yet more women are stepping forward, driven by a determination to protect the next generation.“I carry my story not as a burden,” Baldeh says, “but as a call to action.”

A Regional Reckoning

The outcome of The Gambia’s Supreme Court case could reverberate across Africa, where efforts to end FGM are at varying stages. Countries like Kenya and Nigeria have introduced laws banning the practice, but enforcement remains inconsistent, and cultural resistance persists. Advocates argue that legal frameworks must be matched with education, community engagement, and support for survivors. “Laws are essential, but they are not enough on their own,” says a regional human rights expert. “We need to change mindsets as well as policies.”Still, the law remains a critical line of defence. 

In The Gambia, the 2015 ban marked a significant step forward, signalling a national commitment to protecting girls. Defending that law is now seen as essential to maintaining momentum.

The Cost of Inaction

For those on the frontlines, the urgency is undeniable. Every delay, every rollback, carries real consequences.“Children are still being cut,” Baldeh warns. “Every day we wait, more girls are at risk.”The deaths of the two infants last year serve as a stark reminder of what is at stake. Behind every statistic is a child, a family, a future altered irrevocably. Activists fear that if the ban is weakened, such tragedies could become more frequent, not less.

A Global Responsibility

While the battle is being fought in Gambian courts, its significance is global. International organisations, human rights groups, and concerned citizens are being called upon to lend their voices.Campaigners believe that global solidarity can influence outcomes by signalling to Gambian authorities that the world is watching, and that the protection of girls is a shared responsibility.“ This is about more than one country,” Baldeh says. “It is about what we stand for as a global community.”

A Defining Moment

As the countdown to the Supreme Court hearing continues, the mood among activists is a mix of urgency and resolve. They have fought this battle before, and won. In 2024, widespread advocacy helped defend the ban against earlier challenges. Now, they are preparing to do it again.“This is our last chance,” Baldeh says. “We cannot afford to lose. ”For her, and for countless others, the fight is deeply personal. It is about ensuring that no girl has to endure what they did. It is about transforming pain into progress.And above all, it is about making sure that the voices of survivors are not just heard, but acted upon.

As the world watches, The Gambia stands at a crossroads. The decision made in the coming weeks will shape not only the future of its girls, but also the broader struggle against a practice that has persisted for generations.

For Baldeh, the message is simple and urgent: “Stand with us. Protect the ban. Protect our girls.”

*This article is written based on June 2026 Urgent call  going viral in social media, campaigning to sign for petition on the matter by Avaaz, a London based global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people shape global a decision making.