Ms. Fatou Baldeh, MBE is a women's rights advocate and leading figure in the fights against the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia. A survivor of the practice, she established Women In Liberation and Leadership to advocate against FGM through advocacy and awareness raising at the grassroots level. Fatou is a PhD Fellow at Canterbury Christ Church University through The Gambia Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She holds a MSc. in Sexual and Reproductive Health from The Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and a BSc. in Psychology and Health from the University of Wolverhampton. In recognition of the impact of her work, Fatou was honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for an outstanding service to migrant women in Scotland. In 2024, Fatou received the International Woman of Courage Award from U.S. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, in recognition of her dedication to women’s rights and the fight against FGM. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Community Sensitization on the Impact of Female Genital Mutilation Among Communities in The Gambia 

The project seeks to empower rural women, girls and communities in the Gambia with a better understanding of their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Fatou will directly engage 60 girls through small workshops that will focus on FGM, child marriage, sexual violence, women in leadership, and more. In addition, another 60 girls will be reached through community dialogue sessions that plan to disperse educational materials to affected community members.

Fatou has contacted the communities where the project will be implemented, ensuring that they are aware of the intervention. She has consulted with community elders and leaders, securing their approval for the project, which is critical given the sensitivity of the subject matter in her region. 

Participants for the safe spaces, specifically young women, have been identified within the West Coast Region. Dates for the safe spaces sessions have been set over a 16-day period to ensure active participation and engagement. 

“I hope this IVLP impact project will provide knowledge and information to communities on the impact of harmful traditional practices such as FGM on the health and wellbeing of girls so that they can take a stance and end the practice in their generation.”- Fatou Baldeh 

IVLP Exchange Experience   

Fatou participated in the 2024 IVLP special initiative International Women of Courage organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center, in partnership with International Citizen Diplomacy of Los Angeles. 

Fatou’s exchange experience led to the development of her project: “During my IVLP experience, I had the opportunity to meet women across 12 countries including the United States. One thing evident was the fact that women and girls no matter where in the world they lived, they continue to experience violence and discrimination based on their gender at an unacceptable rate. We therefore need to amplify efforts to end all forms of violence against women and girls."

U.S. Communities Visited   

Washington, DC; Los Angeles, CA 

Country: The Gambia 

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