URGENT: In just three weeks we Gambians will have our last chance to defend the ban on cutting girls. When I was very young, I was held down while part of my genitals were cut away. That's illegal, for now. But pro-FGM leaders are attacking the ban in court. We're mobilizing to defend it, and combining a global outcry with survivors' voices could carry the day. Join us! Will you help me work towards a world where no little girls are cut and mutilated? My name is Fatou Baldeh, and when I was a little girl, I was held down on the floor while part of my genitals were cut away. It is a moment that changes you forever. We won a ban on female genital mutilation in 2015. And, along with Avaaz, we defended it in 2024. But children are still being cut – last year, two baby girls died. Now pro-FGM advocates are attacking the ban again, this time at the Supreme Court. The final Court hearing is just three weeks away – it's our last chance to defend the ban. And global pressure combined with the voices of Gambian survivors could make all the difference by pushing the government to stand up for its law and showing the Court that the world is watching. Sign now, and I'll work with Avaaz to bring women from all over the country to the hearing to make survivors' voices heard! And we'll flood the capital with ads and news stories so top officials know the world stands with us.
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URGENT: In just three weeks we Gambians will have our last chance to defend the ban on cutting girls. When I was very young, I was held down while part of my genitals were cut away. That's illegal, for now. But pro-FGM leaders are attacking the ban in court. We're mobilizing to defend it, and combining a global outcry with survivors' voices could carry the day. Join us!
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Dear friends,
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Will you help me work towards a world where no little girls are cut and mutilated?
My name is Fatou Baldeh, and when I was a little girl, I was held down on the floor while part of my genitals were cut away.
It is a moment that changes you forever.
We won a ban on female genital mutilation in 2015. And, along with Avaaz, we defended it in 2024. But children are still being cut – last year, two baby girls died. Now pro-FGM advocates are attacking the ban again, this time at the Supreme Court.
The final Court hearing is just three weeks away – it's our last chance to defend the ban. And global pressure combined with the voices of Gambian survivors could make all the difference by pushing the government to stand up for its law and showing the Court that the world is watching.
Sign now, and I'll work with Avaaz to bring women from all over the country to the hearing to make survivors' voices heard! And we'll flood the capital with ads and news stories so top officials know the world stands with us.
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In The Gambia, my story is not unique. One in two girls, and more than 70% of women, have gone through this, often before they even reach the age of five. Culture is not an excuse, tradition is not a shield; this is simply violence, harm being normalised in young bodies and lives being changed forever.
This moment matters far beyond The Gambia. Weakening the law could embolden efforts to roll back protections for girls elsewhere, too. Defending the ban could become a powerful example for the region. For me, this is not abstract, it is deeply personal. It is about whether we truly believe that every girl has the right to grow up safe, whole, and free from harm.
I carry my story not as a burden, but as a call to action. We cannot look away. We must stand with girls, demand accountability, and ensure that the law is not just written, but lived. Please add your name and stand with us once again:
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We have fought tirelessly to protect Gambian girls before, and we won. Now, we need to do it one more time. Stand with me, protect the ban, and save every baby under threat.
With hope and determination,
Fatou Baldeh and the Avaaz team
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Avaaz is a 70-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 18 countries on 6 continents and operates in 22 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
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