Gambia’s Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Ban on Female Genital Mutilation

Gambia’s Supreme Court is preparing to rule on a legal challenge that could overturn the country’s 2015 ban on female genital mutilation, a practice internationally recognized as a form of torture and gender-based violence.

The case was brought by religious leaders and lawmakers who argue that the ban violates constitutional protections for religious and cultural freedom. If successful, the challenge would reverse a decade of legal progress aimed at protecting girls and women from a practice that often involves forced cutting, severe pain, long-term health complications, and, in some cases, death.

According to UNICEF data, nearly three-quarters of women and girls aged 15–49 in Gambia reported having undergone FGM as recently as 2020 (UNICEF, 2024). Health experts and human rights advocates warn that lifting the ban would expose future generations to irreversible harm and undermine Gambia’s commitments under international treaties such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Human Rights Watch noted that the legal challenge reflects a broader global backlash against women’s rights, where cultural arguments are increasingly used to justify practices that violate bodily autonomy (Human Rights Watch, 2026). During court proceedings, witnesses defending FGM claimed the practice reduces women’s sexual desire, a statement advocates say reinforces deeply rooted gender inequality.

Women’s rights organizations within Gambia have mobilized survivors, community leaders, and legal experts to defend the ban. For many, the case is not merely constitutional but existential. As activist and survivor Fatou Baleh stated, fear of harassment and retaliation has already silenced some women who oppose the challenge (Human Rights Watch, 2026).

The court’s ruling will likely shape not only Gambia’s legal landscape but also regional efforts to combat harmful practices across West Africa.