According to UN estimates, as many as three-quarters of Gambian women between 15 and 49 have undergone the practice, reflecting the deep-rooted cultural acceptance of FGM.
There are no health benefits to FGM, which involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia. All forms are associated with increased long- and short-term health risks.
Despite advances in eradicating FGM, overall progress has stalled or reversed, and alarming legislative attempts, like in The Gambia, threaten hard-won protections.
In Sierra Leone, where FGM remains legal, three girls have died in cutting ceremonies this year, underscoring the urgent need for legislative action and community intervention.
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