Empowering African Youth: Young Women Fighting to End Gender-Based Violence

Global campaigns and grassroots organizations are driving youth-led initiatives to combat gender-based violence and advance women’s rights across Africa, the Pacific, and the United States, according to recent reports from the Spotlight Initiative, Amnesty International, and Leading Ladies Africa.

Grassroots Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in West and East Africa

Organizations like Amnesty International are actively working with communities in Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Sierra Leone to address pervasive forms of gender-based violence, including early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and physical, psychological, and economic abuse, according to Amnesty International reporting. In the Sédhiou region of southern Senegal, 17-year-old high school student Mariama Seydi has campaigned against FGM and early marriages through her school human rights club. According to Amnesty International, Seydi has been involved with the club since she was eight years old and uses her training to educate her peers and challenge traditional practices.

Also in the Sédhiou region, 39-year-old Djénébou Assé Kandé serves as secretary of the Nafore Kawral Group, working toward women’s and community empowerment after surviving domestic violence. According to Amnesty International, Kandé visits schools and surrounding villages regularly to speak with students and women about domestic abuse prevention and sexual health following training from Amnesty.

Empowering Survivors and Expanding Digital Safety

In Kenya, activists are confronting both physical violence and digital abuses, according to reports by Leading Ladies Africa. Kenyan engineer and feminist tech advocate Malkia John founded Sauti Salama, a digital platform offering anonymous support to survivors of gender-based violence. According to Leading Ladies Africa, John uses machine-learning models to map GBV hotspots and has trained more than 500 women and girls in cybersecurity and online privacy. Similarly, Kenyan human-rights defender Njeri wa Migwi co-founded Usikimye in 2019, a grassroots organization that provides safe houses, emergency rescues, and legal support for survivors, while also speaking out against online harassment and femicide.

In Liberia, 22-year-old Ruth Jeffrey works as Director of Programming for Radio Sletorwah, raising awareness about sexual and gender-based violence since age 17, according to Spotlight Initiative reports. Jeffrey hosts a talk show focusing on women’s issues and emphasizes the necessity of reporting crimes to the police despite community stigma. In Uganda, recent Smart Girls Foundation graduate Maria transitioned from a shy student into a mechanics and engineering professional. According to Spotlight Initiative, the foundation trains young women in trades traditionally dominated by men, enabling graduates like Maria to work as local managers and youth counselors supporting other students.

Community Advocacy and Global Leadership

In Samoa, 26-year-old rugby league player Anasis Afi’a used training supported by the Spotlight Initiative to advocate for the inclusion of pregnant adolescent girls within her church community, tackling social stigma surrounding pregnancies outside of marriage, according to Spotlight Initiative data. Meanwhile, in the United States, 27-year-old Grammy-winning recording artist Audrey Nuna used her first appearance at the United Nations to call for increased investments in girls’ education and launched a scholarship fund supporting women who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour to continue their studies, according to Spotlight Initiative records.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of gender-based violence do activists address in West Africa?

According to Amnesty International, activists in countries like Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Sierra Leone combat female genital mutilation (FGM), early and forced marriage, physical abuse, psychological harm, and economic violence.

How does the Smart Girls Foundation support young women in Uganda?

According to Spotlight Initiative reports, the Smart Girls Foundation trains young women from diverse backgrounds in mechanics, engineering, and plumbing, helping them secure employment and mentor other students in their communities.

What is Sauti Salama?

According to Leading Ladies Africa, Sauti Salama is a digital platform founded by Malkia John that provides safe, anonymous support, legal aid, and mental health resources to survivors of gender-based violence in Kenya.