Feminists in The Gambia are up in arms against female genital mutilation following the confirmed death over the weekend of a baby apparently from the practice.
FGM involves the cutting or removal of the external genitalia of women and girls which health experts claim leads to pain, trauma and death.
The Gambian police in a statement confirmed that two women are being detained over the death of the one-month old baby.
The police reaffirmed its commitment to the wellbeing of all vulnerable persons and urged the public to report any harmful practices.
Medical personnel of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital declared the baby, a girl, dead shortly after she was transported there suffering from severe bleeding.
Female activists opposed to FGM have since blamed the death to the practice which is still prevalent across The Gambia despite an official ban in 2015.
Two cases were prosecuted since the criminalisation of the practice which is punishable by a fine and imprisonment.
The NGO Women In Leadership and Liberation (WILL) has since issued a statement condemning the baby’s death as violence, adding that ”culture is no excuse, tradition is no shield” for those responsible for the practice.
Despite the ban, The Gambia at 73 percent of women and girls put to the knife, remains one of ten African countries with the highest rates of FGM.
Victims are usually between the age of 15 and 49.
Apologists for the practice including imams last year campaigned unsuccessfully in the National Assembly for the ban to be lifted.
They had vowed to continue with this campaign.
WN/as/APA