Fatou Baldeh receiving her Award
EFSCRJ celebrates and congratulates to Fatou Baldeh for receiving the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s Albie Award, a powerful recognition of her unwavering fight against FGM and all forms of oppression against women. This global honour not only celebrates her personal dedication but also uplifts the voices of Gambian women and the broader struggle for equality and justice in our society.
Fatou’s recognition follows several other international awards, each underscoring her immense contribution to advancing women’s rights, empowerment, and freedom from violence. Through her tireless advocacy and leadership, she has inspired hope, raised awareness, and given voice to survivors who refuse to be silenced. Her achievement reinforces the global relevance of Gambian activism and highlights the resilience of our civil society, especially the women’s rights movement.
At the heart of her work stands Women in Liberation and Leadership (WILL), an organization she founded to nurture feminist leadership and amplify women’s voices in national and community affairs. Despite its young existence, WILL is breaking new ground in redefining how women lead and liberate themselves from social and systemic constraints.
Fatou Baldeh’s award is therefore not just a personal triumph but a national symbol of pride and reflection. It reminds us that progress for women is progress for the entire nation. Her courage calls on the state, policymakers, and communities to renew their commitment to protecting women’s rights, enforcing the anti-FGM law, and promoting gender equality as a national priority.
When women like Fatou rise, The Gambia rises with them towards a just, equal, and liberated future.
Congratulations Fatou!