Breaking News!!!! Al-Azhar just issued a fatwa against child marriage. Marriage must be 18 for both boys and girls at the
@africa4girls
summit. This is a historic moment for us and everyone that works for the equality of girls.
This is what a child bride looks like. I was fifteen and couldn’t imagine being a wife. Let’s try and end Child Marriage. Personally I think it is the worst form of human rights violation.
I attended the
#TIME100Health
dinner in New York on Monday. Thank you
@TIME
for the honor and it was so great seeing so many friends after a while. As always! We gotta show how beautiful our culture is despite the challenges we are dealing with.
#Gambia
#Fulani
#EndFGM220
I am officially part of the
@lorealparis
family! Today I became the newest international spokesperson for the brand. Ask me how I feel. Thank you L’Oreal for believing in me and showing the world that we are all worth it.
TIME's list of the 100 Most Influential People in global health is out today. I'm honored to be a part this group:
@TIME
I want to thank my team at
@SafeHands4Girls
and everyone that continues to partner with us in this journey. This is for you.
I swear I knew this is one outfit that I can reuse over and over again. Trying to figure out how to get to Cameroon next week and who can bring me this.
All the young people that are interested in meeting Halifa Sallah, please meet us at our political bureau tomorrow at 2pm. Let’s get out in our numbers and show our appreciation. ❤️❤️🇬🇲
2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending victims of war-time sexual violence. Fellow laureate Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others.
#NobelPrize
My mother wanted me to go get an education but even she never imagined I will come this far. Thank you
@GaSouthwestern
for the biggest honor of my life. Thank you to everyone that came and everyone that has supported my journey.
Guys, uncle Halifa has asked me to tell you all that we have our agenda and should not be part of any other agenda. He has asked us to not act on impulse and wait for the party to respond.
On this international zero tolerance day against FGM, I want us all to renew our commitment to the millions of girls who continue to be subjected to this practice.
Congratulations to my president
@JoeBiden
and
@KamalaHarris
!!! This is the only birthday present I prayed for this year. 2016 I spent my birthday crying and this year we made history... We can finally go back to ending violence against women again with a president that cares.
I just casted my vote and today I chose my country! Today, I chose progress and I chose integrity over empty promises and ineptitude.
#GambiaDecides2021
#TheGambia
Congratulations to
@DanaiGurira
for being appointed as a fellow
@UN_Women
Goodwill Ambassador! I look forward to working together with you for gender equality worldwide.
Barrow was the most funded politician during this election cycle. I kept telling people including my own party that money matters in politics. Gambia is not a country that votes on ideas or issues. We vote on the illusion of money.
On this international day of ending violence against women, I reaffirm my commitment to women and girls everywhere. I in 3 is a lot. We need to rebuild our social structures so women are seen and treated equally. FGM is one issue I believe we can end. We need to unlearn to start.
Personally the scorpion wins took me out of the worst depression I’ve ever gone through in my life. I was in a very dark place and somehow seeing Gambians happy and United healed me in ways I can’t explain.
#Gambia
We are in Kenya today talking to traditional leaders about ending FGM and child marriage. We have traditional leaders from all over the continent.
@unwomenafrica
We are proud of our scorpions. You have United us and you performed beyond our expectation and today you deserve nothing but our sincere gratitude. Thank you to each and everyone one of you for raising our flag high. We celebrate you.
#Gambia
Thank you Gambia! Thank you Africa! As I take on this new role as
@UN_Women
regional ambassador for Africa. I take the 200 million women affected by FGM and all the girls who have been forced to marry. Girls have a right to live a full life!
I want young people to know that we are not tomorrow’s leaders but leaders period. If you can make a difference don’t wait and don’t allow anyone to tell you otherwise.
Today! Yet again
@SafeHands4Girls
accomplished The impossible. What could’ve been unimaginable a few years ago in The Gambia is now happening. I truly believe our country will end FGM.
#EndFGM
Yesterday, my friend
@JahaENDFGM
took her political party to her home village in The Gambia & they were welcomed by huge crowds. It shows you are never too young to lead. Its important we support young leaders like Jaha who are destined to change the face of their continent.
Halifa Sallah thank you again and again. Thank you for pushing me to my limits. Thank you for believing in me and giving me this opportunity to serve my country. I have been called your wife, your daughter throughout this election year. You are my mentor and political Father.
I met this beautiful baby that was named after me and she is everything. She is so special. She literally smiled as I told her how great she is and will become. I love her. Thank you to the parents for deeming me fit to name a whole child after me.
#DayOfTheGirl
My biggest pride is the fact that Khadija lives in a world where she is free to be whoever and whatever she wants. Happy international day of the girl. We celebrate all the beautiful girls around the world
@UN_Women
She was forced to get married at the age of 15. That’s also when she realized she went through FGM. Meet our Goodwill Ambassador
@JahaENDFGM
& join her in saying
#TimeIsNow
to
#EndFGM
!
Subjecting a girl to FGM is subjecting her to a lifetime of injustice. Today and everyday, we have zero tolerance for FGM. Take action today and join the movement to end FGM.
Yesterday someone very close to me was raped as they were coming to my home. I am shattered! When I took her to the police, I was told they had five cases just that night. My heart bleeds for what our country is turning into.
My people, my tribesmen voted for Adama Barrow in the largest numbers I have seen. You know why? Because they are the ones benefiting from the corruption. Some my own family. I chose my country and I will always choose all of Gambia.
Stop asking me to differentiate between the different types of FGM. I really don’t care. No one has any business cutting anything from the private parts of women. Khalas.
You can kill a man but you can never kill his ideas. Uncle Halifa, we will live by your principles and we will educate the masses in this country.
#GambiaDecides2021
Today I spent time with president
@MohamedNasheed
during cop. As a former president, his humility inspires me so much. He took time to talk to these student that were walking past us during lunch and the exchange warmed my heart so much.
We fought a decent fight. We sacrificed everything for our country and I have no regrets. We stood for the truth. I have no regrets and I will continue fighting to educate our people. I pray for a day when Gambians put themselves first.
Yo! Now that we lost the elections and I actually had to quit all my paid jobs to come work for my country. I am back on the employment line. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I actually need to find a job fast. If your company is need of my services please contact me.
On the final day all I have to say is thank you. You have all helped us turn a promise into action in our continent. Many thought this dream was too big to realize but you all did. From the
@WorldBank
@UNFPA
@UNFPA
@WallaceGlobal
and the many individuals that contributed.
#Rape
is a very difficult issue for me to discuss because of personal reasons but
#Gambia
is at a state where I can’t stay quiet anymore.
@BarrowPresident
this is a national emergency and you either step up and act or we will hold you responsible for failing out girls.
I have spent the last week in a place I consider heaven and I leave the Maldives with so much hope and inspiration. Thank you president
@MohamedNasheed
for hosting me and believing in me. I am grateful for your leadership. If the world had a few more of you no one will suffer.
I am going to start writing again. I want the world to understand how challenging it is to live as an activist. It will probably be the most honest book you’ve ever read.
The
#FGM
law in The Gambia has not been reversed. The bill has been sent to commitee.
#FGM
is still illegal in the Gambia but this means that we also have our work cut out for us.
Millions of girls continue to be subjected to rape everyday through child and forced marriage. We can’t punish victims. The injustice here is to Noura. Ask
#Sudan
to do what’s right.
Today! A member of the National Assembly in the Gambia Sulayman Saho of Badibu requested for the law against FGM to be reversed because they don’t want to lock up their mothers and sisters but they are ok with harming and sometimes killing little girls.
1/2
Yesterday was your birthday and I am forever honored to be your mother Khadija! I do everything I do so you and other girls like you don’t have to live the life that I lived. Happy birthday mama.
#EndFGM220
Today we submitted our position paper and I also gave testimony to our National Assembly on behalf of
@SafeHands4Girls
. Watch a part of my testimony here.
Good morning
@BarrowPresident
! I want to personally congratulate you for taking over the chairmanship of the OIC. Muslim nations gathered in our country this weekend and they agree that FGM must end. Help us keep the ban against the practice.
#EndFGM220
I am humbled and privileged to represent young people in my work and thankful to
@UN_Women
and Mama
@phumzileunwomen
for the opportunity. We live in a world where many people talk about youth leaders and rising leaders but not many believe in the concept.
This is the type of ignorance we see everyday. No religion condones the violation of the rights of women and no sir, I work. Ending FGM was never a career for me. It’s my commitment to women and girls. Y’all want to discredit me with your BS but the world knows I work very hard.
Today, I watched us cry, smile, hold each other and stand for what we believe in and that is beautiful. There is so much beauty in our unity.
#EndFGM220
thank you Network and all the CSO partners for an amazing job today.
International organizations get millions of dollars in the name of advocating for people like us. Hardly does any of that money reach affected communities. Speaking for our people is not an option for us. It’s about our daughters and sisters and we can’t put a price to that.
2/3 there is however one man I know in The Gambia and his name is Halifa Sallah. He is a Gambian politician and the Secretary General of
#PDOIS
. I don’t know anyone that would give a young woman the chances he has given me. Let’s celebrate him and let’s ask more men to follow.
I am happy to announce that I am one of this year’s North-South Prize recipients along with French mayor Damien Careme. I want to thank commissioner
@MimicaEU
for nominating me for this prize! I continue to be humbled by the outpouring support for my work
Here is our justification that FGM
Or female circumcision is not Islamic!
Now where is yours? Knowledge is powerful and how we use that knowledge is even more powerful.
All around the world, millions of girls are still subject to gender-based violence. Their stories must be heard. Let’s amplify their voices during
#16days
of activism:
#HearMeToo
via
@UN_Women
Imam Fatty calls himself an Imam and yet claims that no one has ever died of FGM. That is not true. In fact I had a sister that died at the tender age of one week. All of you supporting this western agender bullshit should miss us with that none sense!
As I leave home today for my final trip to Senegal for the summit I couldn’t stop myself from crying with all the prayers from my family and knowing that we are about to pull of something so incredible for our continent.
In Cairo today talking about FGM and child marriage and the religious aspect. Also looking forward to meeting with the office of the grand Shiekh at Al Azhar university and the National council for women in Egypt in preparation to The Africa Leadership Summit.
On days like this I want to say I give up on Gambia but I know that many of our people don’t know any better. They sold their votes for less than $10 a person. This is the state of our country and her people.
#Gambia
We have done a lot things when it comes to ending FGM but this trip beats them all. We had an amazing meeting with Sheikh Al Azhar and strong commitments came out of the meeting that I believe will change how we talk about FGM going forward. Thank you
@UN_Women
!
Today we had an amazing session in
#Brikama
in continuation of our community sensitization program.
@SafeHands4Girls
partnered with law enforcement and community leaders to talk about the current challenges we are facing with FGM in the Gambia
#EndFGM220
On March 18th we are mobilizing everyone who believes in our cause to join us at the Gambia National Assembly. We are mobilizing through
@NgbvGambia
and other partners.
I just told everyone in my house that until conrona ends or goes down in The Gambia, no one is allowed in and out of my house. I am sorry but just can’t take chances. I have various underlining health conditions including a heart condition.
So my son Abu called me today. He wants me to eat and rest as much as I can. Hearing him ask if I’ve eaten made me cry. He is four and the sweetest little human in the world. He is a mini version of me and I can’t express how much I love him.
#mum
On this international day of Zero Tolerance Against FGM, The Senegalese Prime Minister has confirmed the dates of our Africa Leadership summit against FGM and child marriage. April 23rd to 25th 2019. Dakar Senegal.
Some
#UNGA
photos. As a
@UN_Women
goodwill ambassador, I get to participate in key conversations about equality and women’s political and economic growth.