Reacting to the honour, Dr Baldeh shared her heartfelt appreciation:
“Thank you so much to TIME for this generous recognition. I was stunned when I heard the news. I am honoured to be listed among such extraordinary company and I am dedicating this moment to the incredible women and girls of The Gambia. They are the real icons here.”
Dr Fatou Baldeh’s journey is one of courage, resilience, and unwavering dedication to gender justice. A survivor of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), she has transformed her personal experience into a global mission to end sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). As a leading human rights activist, she continues to fight for a world where every woman and girl can live free from harm and discrimination.
After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Health from the University of Wolverhampton and a Master’s in Sexual and Reproductive Health from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Dr Baldeh returned to The Gambia in 2018. There, she founded Women in Liberation and Leadership (WILL), a transformative organisation working to protect the rights and uplift the voices of women across the country.
Her impact extends far beyond national borders. Dr Baldeh’s global recognition includes receiving the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2020 for her work with migrant women in Scotland. In 2024, she was honored with the U.S. State Department’s International Women of Courage Award and the Geneva Summit Women’s Rights Award. In early 2025, she was celebrated as one of TIME’s Women of the Year, and former U.S. President Barack Obama publicly acknowledged her work to end FGM on International Women’s Dayan accolade echoed by Michelle Obama as well. Harvard University also listed her among the 25 Extraordinary Women in the World, joining names such as Iceland’s President and philanthropist Melinda French Gates.
Beyond her activism, Dr Baldeh continues to break ground in global health. She is currently pursuing a PhD at Canterbury Christ Church University and serves as a Research Fellow at the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She also holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Wolverhampton.
Despite her busy professional life, Dr Baldeh remains grounded in her personal values as a devoted wife and mother of four boys. Her legacy is not just one of awards and accolades, but of real, lasting change for generations of women and girls around the world.
