The court case resumed this month after a tragic incident last year in which two infants died from complications related to FGM. Almameh Gibba, the MP involved in the challenge, previously introduced a bill to parliament seeking to decriminalize FGM, but it was rejected.

FGM, which involves altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons, is recognized internationally as a violation of human rights. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. While the practice is deeply rooted in cultural traditions and often seen as a rite of passage, it can lead to severe health problems, including infections, chronic pain, complications during childbirth, and psychological trauma.

In the Gambia, nearly 75% of women have undergone FGM, often during infancy. The country officially banned the practice in 2015, imposing penalties on those who perform or facilitate it. However, the ban has faced resistance from some religious and community leaders who argue that FGM is a religious obligation or a cultural tradition.

Activists and lawyers working to protect women's rights see the legal challenge in the Gambia as part of a worrying trend. Fatou Baldeh, founder of the Gambian rights organization Women in Liberation Leadership, views it as "the latest move in a backlash against women's rights that is eroding gender protections across the world." This perspective highlights concerns that gains made in women's rights are being threatened by conservative forces seeking to maintain traditional practices.

The outcome of the Supreme Court case in the Gambia will have significant implications for the future of women's rights in the country and could potentially influence similar debates in other nations where FGM remains prevalent. The court's decision is pending.