Report on Infant Fatality from Female Genital Mutilation in Gambia and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

A recent incident in Serrekunda, Gambia, involving the death of a one-month-old infant following a Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) procedure has resulted in criminal charges against three women. This case highlights the persistent challenges in eliminating harmful practices and underscores the critical importance of national laws in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health, gender equality, and justice.

2.0 Incident Details and Legal Action

Gambian police have charged three women in connection with the infant’s death, marking a significant application of the country’s anti-FGM legislation.

• Victim: A one-month-old female infant.
• Cause of Death: Severe bleeding resulting from an FGM procedure, as per preliminary police findings. The infant was pronounced dead upon arrival at Bundung Maternal and Child Health Hospital.
• Charges: The women were charged under the Women’s (Amendment) Act, 2015. One individual faces a potential life imprisonment sentence, while the other two have been charged as accomplices.

3.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This case directly intersects with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, demonstrating the tangible impact of harmful traditional practices on global development targets.

3.1 SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The infant’s death is a stark violation of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. FGM is a procedure with no health benefits and recognized by the World Health Organization as a form of torture that can cause severe bleeding, infection, complications in childbirth, and death. This incident tragically illustrates the immediate and fatal health risks associated with the practice, undermining efforts to reduce neonatal and child mortality.

3.2 SDG 5: Gender Equality

The practice of FGM is a fundamental breach of SDG 5, which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Specifically, Target 5.3 calls for the elimination of all harmful practices, such as FGM. The procedure is a form of gender-based violence and a violation of the human rights of girls and women. The continued practice, despite a legal ban, signifies a major barrier to achieving gender equality and protecting female bodily autonomy and integrity in Gambia.

3.3 SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

This case serves as a critical test for SDG 16, which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies and calls for access to justice for all and effective, accountable institutions. The prosecution of the individuals involved demonstrates an effort by Gambian authorities to enforce national law and provide justice. The ongoing societal debate over the FGM ban and calls for its repeal challenge the strength and resolve of the nation’s legal and judicial institutions to protect its most vulnerable citizens.

4.0 National and Global Context

The incident occurs within a complex national and international landscape concerning FGM.

1. Legal Framework in Gambia: The country banned FGM in 2015. However, a recent parliamentary debate considered reversing this ban, though it was ultimately upheld. This indicates a deep societal division on the issue.
2. Prevalence: Despite the ban, the practice reportedly continues in secrecy. The United Nations estimates that approximately 75% of women in Gambia have undergone FGM.
3. Global Statistics: The UN reports that over 200 million women and girls globally are survivors of FGM, with most cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. UNICEF noted in 2023 that 30 million women had been subjected to the practice in the preceding eight years alone.

5.0 Stakeholder Reactions

The infant’s death has elicited strong and polarized reactions from various groups within Gambia.

• Human Rights Bodies: The National Human Rights Commission described the incident as a “national wake-up call” and urged the full and fair enforcement of the law.
• Civil Society Organizations: The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice expressed “sorrow and outrage,” demanding that justice be served to affirm that the rights and lives of girls are non-negotiable.
• Pro-FGM Advocates: The “Concerned Citizens” collective has called on the government to cease targeting practitioners, arguing that the populace opposes the ban and has instructed elected officials to repeal it.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly addresses health issues by reporting on the death of a one-month-old girl due to complications from female genital mutilation (FGM). It highlights the severe health risks associated with the practice, mentioning “severe bleeding, death and complications later in life, including in childbirth.” This connects the practice of FGM to negative health outcomes, including infant mortality, which is a core concern of SDG 3.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The central theme of the article is FGM, which is a harmful practice and a form of gender-based violence. SDG 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The article discusses the ban on FGM, the debate between women’s rights and tradition, and the prosecution of perpetrators, all of which are central to the goal of eliminating harmful practices against females. The article notes that those against FGM argue its supporters “are seeking to curtail women’s rights in the name of tradition.”

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is relevant because the article focuses on the legal and institutional response to FGM in Gambia. It details the existence of the “Women’s (Amendment) Act, 2015,” which bans the practice, and reports on the charging of three women under this law. The article also includes calls for the full enforcement of the law, with the National Human Rights Commission chair stating, “Our task now is clear: enforce it (the law) fully and fairly, without fear or favor.” This highlights the role of justice and strong institutions in protecting vulnerable populations and upholding the rule of law.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age

   The article’s main subject is the death of a one-month-old infant following an FGM procedure. This is a preventable death caused by a harmful traditional practice. The infant “developed severe bleeding” and was “pronounced dead on arrival” at the hospital, directly linking the practice to child mortality and making Target 3.2 highly relevant.

2. Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation

   This target is explicitly addressed. The entire article revolves around female genital mutilation (FGM), its continued practice despite a ban, and the societal debate surrounding it. The prosecution of individuals for performing FGM is a direct action toward achieving this target.

3. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children

   The article discusses a violent act performed on a one-month-old child. The World Health Organization is cited as defining FGM as “a form of torture.” The death of the infant is the ultimate consequence of this form of child abuse and violence, making this target directly applicable.

4. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

   The article highlights the legal framework in Gambia, specifically the “Women’s (Amendment) Act, 2015,” and its enforcement through the charging of three women. The call by civil society groups that “Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done” underscores the importance of the justice system in addressing this issue and ensuring accountability, which is the essence of Target 16.3.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 3.2 (Infant Mortality)

  The article’s report on the death of a one-month-old girl is a case study that contributes to the **infant mortality rate (Indicator 3.2.2)**. While it provides a single data point, it implies that FGM is a contributing factor to preventable infant deaths in the region.

• Indicator for Target 5.3 (Prevalence of FGM)

  The article explicitly provides data relevant to **Indicator 5.3.2: Proportion of girls and women aged 15-49 years who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting, by age group**. It states, “The United Nations estimates that about 75% of women in Gambia have been subjected as young girls to the procedure.” This statistic is a direct measure of the prevalence of FGM in the country.

• Indicator for Target 16.3 (Functioning Justice System)

  The article implies an indicator related to the functioning of the justice system. The report that “Three women were charged Tuesday under the ban, the Women’s (Amendment) Act, 2015” serves as a qualitative indicator of the state’s effort to enforce its laws. The number of prosecutions and convictions under this specific act could be used as a quantitative measure of progress toward ensuring justice and accountability for this crime.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: abcnews.go.com