Female Genital Mutilation in Infancy Still Common, Gambian Mothers Say

Female Genital Mutilation in Infancy Still Common, Gambian Mothers Say

Hulay Damba, 55, spent years performing female genital mutilation on girls in her community. Her role as a practitioner was passed down from her grandmother. “It was what I was taught,” she explained.  Despite years of steady advocacy in the Gambia, rates of female genital mutilation remain high, even among younger generations. According to 2021 data, almost three quarters of girls aged 15 to 19 have been subjected to female genital mutilation, …