The legal challenge gained momentum after two infants died from complications related to FGM in the Gambia last year. Almameh Gibba, the MP involved in the case, previously introduced a bill to parliament seeking to decriminalize FGM, but it was defeated. The current court case is scheduled to resume this month.

FGM, which involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, is a deeply rooted cultural practice in many parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. According to UNICEF, it is estimated that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in 30 countries, primarily in Africa. In the Gambia, nearly 75% of women have been subjected to the procedure, often during infancy.

Activists and human rights organizations are condemning the legal challenge, arguing that it undermines years of progress in combating FGM and protecting women's health and rights. Fatou Baldeh, founder of the Gambian rights organization Women in Liberation Leadership, sees the case as part of a broader global trend of eroding gender protections.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes FGM as a violation of human rights and emphasizes that it has no health benefits, leading instead to significant physical and psychological harm. International efforts to eliminate FGM have gained traction in recent decades, with many countries enacting laws to ban the practice. However, enforcement remains a challenge, particularly in communities where FGM is deeply ingrained in cultural traditions. The outcome of the supreme court case in the Gambia could have significant implications for the future of FGM prevention efforts in the country and potentially influence similar debates in other nations grappling with the issue.