Today (6 July 2026), Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh awarded an honorary degree to leading human rights activist Fatou Baldeh MBE, whose work has helped drive the global fight against female genital mutilation (FGM).
As an educator and campaigner, Fatou has received international recognition for her work, including being named one of ‘TIME’ Magazine’s Women of the Year 2025, honoured by the Clooney Foundation for Justice, and a member of the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance Network, led by Michelle Obama.
In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Queen Margaret University was delighted to award her a Doctor of the University, honoris causa, at the first of QMU’s 2026 graduation ceremonies at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.
Fatou’s courage, scholarship and unwavering commitment to justice have transformed lives in Scotland, The Gambia and beyond. She has turned lived experience into leadership, using her voice and expertise to challenge inequality and deliver lasting social change.
A graduate of QMU, Fatou completed an MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Health in 2013. She went on to work with the Dignity Alert Research Forum in Edinburgh, later becoming Director, where she amplified the voices of marginalised women and strengthened advocacy for minority ethnic communities across Scotland.
In 2013, Fatou spoke publicly about FGM in Scotland, challenging stigma and denial. The following year, her evidence to the Scottish Parliament helped shape policy and practice, contributing to Scotland’s leadership in prevention and survivor‑centred safeguarding.
Returning to The Gambia in 2018, Fatou founded Women in Liberation and Leadership (WILL), an organisation dedicated to protecting the rights of women and girls. Under her leadership, WILL has become a powerful force for grassroots advocacy, survivor support and systemic change.
Working with The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, she has also ensured that the experiences of women affected by sexual and gender‑based violence are recognised, and that justice and healing remain central to national reconciliation.
Discussing her time at Queen Margaret University, Fatou Baldeh said: “Taking the MSc course at the Institute for Global Health and Development has truly been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
“The course provided not only a solid theoretical foundation in gender, sexual and reproductive health, and rights, but also an eye-opening experience of learning alongside passionate students from diverse backgrounds.
“The richness of the course lies in the shared insights, lived experiences, and thought-provoking discussions that emerged from this vibrant community. I am grateful for every lesson and every perspective gained.”
Fatou’s impact has been widely recognised. She was appointed MBE in 2020 for her advocacy for Black and Minority Ethnic communities in Scotland, and has received numerous international honours, including the International Women of Courage Award and the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy’s Women’s Rights Award.
In 2025, she was named one of ‘TIME’ Magazine’s Women of the Year and listed among the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’. Her leadership in protecting The Gambia’s ban on FGM has also been recognised by the Clooney Foundation for Justice. She is also a member of the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance Network, led by Michelle Obama, working alongside global leaders to expand opportunities for girls through education.
Commenting on the award, QMU Principal Sir Paul Grice, said: “What distinguishes Fatou’s leadership is not only its global reach, but its humanity.
“She leads with empathy rooted in lived experience, intellectual rigour shaped by education, and a moral clarity that inspires collective action. She builds bridges between communities and institutions, and between local action and global change.
“Her work embodies the values at the heart of Queen Margaret University – social justice, inclusion, equality, global engagement and partnership – as well as the transformative power of education.”
Today, Fatou joined QMU Chancellor Patrick Grant to celebrate the achievements of new QMU graduates.