“We are setting an example”: Meet five activists advancing women’s and girls’ rights in West Africa

5 December 2025

Amnesty International is working closely with communities and partner organizations to combat violence against women and girls in Burkina Faso, Senegal and Sierra Leone. In these West African countries, they are subjected to different forms of gender-based violence (GBV), including early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), but also physical, psychological, and economic violence, exposing them to many vulnerabilities and multiple human rights violations.

Meet five activists who are speaking out, working to raise community awareness, challenging gender-based violence and supporting survivors.

Mariama Seydi

A GBV survivor herself, Mariama Seydi, 17, studies at Djibanar High School in the Sédhiou region in Southern Senegal. She has been involved in activities with Amnesty International since 2017 as an active member of her school's human rights club.

"My greatest pride is being at school, learning and preparing for my future. My dream is to be a lawyer, to defend people who are struggling and need help.

I was cut. We are told that it is a custom, but sometimes I wonder if our ancestors would not be fighting alongside us today against female genital mutilation if they knew all the consequences of this practice. It hurts me to know that I was cut and that there will still be girls who will go through this too.

In our area, there is a lot of violence against girls. The violence I see around me includes female genital mutilation and early and forced marriages. Harassment is also very common.

"I am proud of what I have accomplished so far. I regret that some people think that change is impossible. But I don't let that get me down."

Amnesty's training about GBV has enabled me, as a girl, to aspire to help and defend voiceless people who are unable to defend themselves. After my training sessions, I often share everything I have learned with my friends.

There isn't much communication between young people and their parents. Certain topics are taboo. That's not the case for me; I talk to my mother a lot. She explained to me that she had me cut, as she herself was, because it's a tradition. Not having had the chance to go to school, she just repeated what she knew. She encourages me to get training, learn new things, and help my friends and those around me.

I am proud of what I have accomplished so far. I regret that some people think that change is impossible. But I don't let that get me down because there are people who recognize the importance of what we are doing. It only motivates me more to continue raising awareness."

Djénébou Assé Kandé

Djénébou Assé Kandé, 39, lives in Saré Tening, in the Sédhiou region in Southern Senegal. She is the secretary of the Nafore Kawral Group that works for women's and girls' empowerment. On the path to recovery from domestic violence, she fights for the human rights of members of her community.

"I don't want other girls to go through what I went through. My ex-husband beat me so badly that I had problems with my eyesight and hearing. I was so afraid of him that I didn't even dare to talk to him. After my divorce, while living with my parents, I was invited to attend awareness-raising activities with Amnesty. That's where I learned a lot.

Now, when I come across girls, I never miss an opportunity to talk to them to prevent them from going through what I went through. I often visit schools to talk to students. The girls talk and ask questions. Every Friday, I also visit surrounding villages to talk to women.

"Here, it is common to see girls who do not even reach high school. After elementary or middle school, they are married off. I dropped out of school very early."

I remarried and my new life as part of a couple is really different from what I knew before. With my husband, as soon as we face a problem, we talk about it. I have also learned to talk to my daughter; we talk about sexual health. I am proud of her because she got her high school diploma. Here, it is common to see girls who do not even reach high school. After elementary or middle school, they are married off. I dropped out of school very early.

Men have changed thanks to discussions about gender-based violence and sexual health. When we organize a meeting, I explain to them that the topics we discuss are realities that we experience and that we need to talk about them. Before, men rejected everything we said. Today, their perspective is beginning to change. To bring about change, we need to raise even more awareness among men."

Médard Ouédraogo

Médard Ouédraogo, 50, works as a farmer and is a member of a community alert committee set up by Amnesty International and its partners in the village of Roumtenga, in the Passoré province of Burkina Faso, to combat gender-based violence. He is also a member of the Association for the Promotion of Women and Children (APFE).

"I have been committed to fighting gender-based violence since my first contact with APFE five years ago. I was moved by the issues we discussed because we were experiencing them too. So I joined the Roumtenga alert committee.

We had a woman practicing female genital mutilation in the village. We, the members of the alert committee, went to her house after informing her husband and children of our intention to talk to her. She had already been to prison and was afraid of being arrested again. We took a humble and respectful approach. We explained the harmful consequences of FGM to her. She was touched by our approach and committed to stopping her activity. She did not perform any more female genital mutilation until her death this year.

"Since we have been sensitized about early and forced marriage, there has been a big change. But awareness must also reach the surrounding villages."

In cases of early and forced marriages, as soon as we receive the information, we take action. We visit the family of the suitor or groom and explain to them that girls under the age of 18 should not get married. Often, people understand and accept this. When the girl is already at their home, they tell us they will take her back to her parents. But we insist on accompanying her back to her house. In cases where the man refuses to let the girl return to her family, we report him to either the police or social services.

Since we have been sensitized about early and forced marriage, there has been a big change. Girls are no longer given in marriage against their will. But awareness must also reach the surrounding villages. While Roumtenga has abandoned the practice of early and forced marriages, this is not the case elsewhere.

These are issues that are important to me. We are setting an example, and we are truly proud of it."

Pauline Kaboré

Pauline Kaboré, 45, works at the provincial directorate for humanitarian action and national solidarity in the Passoré province, in Burkina Faso.

"The cases of GBV that I encounter most often are early and forced marriages, physical violence, and social exclusion, for example when women are accused of witchcraft. In total, we receive five to seven cases per week.

I remember a 16-year-old girl who was about to be forced into marriage. She came to us on her own the day before her engagement to report her situation. She was able to receive care and protection.

"I can say that there has been improvement, but GBV is persistent. There is still a long way to go to eradicate it."

Since I started working with Amnesty International, I have changed my approach. A survivor who comes to us is overwhelmed with fear and sadness, and lacks confidence. Before, I thought I had to act quickly. Now I know not to rush. I adapt my tone and reassure her by showing her that she is in good hands.

When I meet with someone in a complex situation, it stirs up emotions in me, but I have learned to put them aside. My priority is that we find solutions together. If the survivor is aware of her situation and no longer wishes to continue with follow-up, we are obliged to stop. We don't force anyone.

Our work is not limited to survivors. We also work with families and the community. We have conducted awareness campaigns and invited community leaders. Some of them are unfamiliar with the law and are stuck in their traditions. But they are really receptive to what we say.

I have managed to reintegrate young girls, resolve issues of forced marriages, and reconcile families. I can say that there has been improvement, but GBV is persistent. There is still a long way to go to eradicate it."

Mohamed Tejan Jalloh

Mohamed Tejan Jalloh is a human rights ambassador in Konakry Dee Community, Port Loko District, in Northwestern Sierra Leone. Aged 27, he works as a teacher and has been volunteering for about 10 years in his community.

"When I was going to school, I saw girls interrupting their education because they were forced into marriage. Their parents married their daughters to fishermen because of their money and influence, no matter how brilliant the girls were. They saw fishermen having two or three boats and only look at the immediate benefit. All this is due to poverty.

At that time, I was 16. I had a friend who was a victim of child marriage and I felt bad about it. From that time, I decided to volunteer and to champion this cause. In this community, I am now known as a human rights ambassador.

"Some people continue to criticize what I do, and I have been threatened. But I am not afraid. I am committed to doing this as long as I am alive."

Now, child marriage has been reduced in our community. It's difficult to make people change. When Amnesty first came to our village, the reaction of the community was not encouraging. There was a lot of confrontation between the volunteers and the parents. But we managed to bring awareness by making them understand that if their daughters can access education, they will acquire knowledge and be in a better position in society.

As volunteers, we go to schools and hold educational sessions. We also talk to Muslim leaders during Friday prayers. We tell them how important it is to allow children to go to school. Our town chief also supports us.

We have some challenges. I'm using a megaphone and I can't reach more than 50 or 60 people per awareness raising session in the field because it is not loud enough. We would like to buy a loudspeaker. Another challenge is the accessibility of our town. When a GBV case is reported in our community, we need the police to intervene. But our road is not good, so it can take time.

Some people continue to criticize what I do, and I have been threatened. But I am not afraid. I am committed to doing this as long as I am alive."

Through a human rights education programme implemented since 2017 in Burkina Faso, Senegal and Sierra Leone, Amnesty International is working alongside local partners and organizations to combat gender-based violence through education, awareness-raising and advocacy, with a view to changing attitudes and behaviours and helping to reform legislation in these countries.

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