Binta Jammeh-Sidibe

Aja Binta Jammeh-Sidibe (born c. 1950s) is a women's rights activist from the Gambia. Jammeh-Sidibe is notable as a campaigner against female genital mutilation and as a champion for women's economic and physical health through her non-profit, Association for Promoting Girls and Women's Advancement (APGWA).

Biography

Early life and career Aja Binta Jammeh was born in Banjul to parents Natoma Marong Jammeh and Alhagie Karamo Jammeh. Her family came from the Illiassa village in the Kerewan LGA of the Lower Baddibu District. As a student, Binta Jammeh stood out academically, receiving the highest mark in her primary school and the third highest marks nationally. violence against women, and for promoting women's empowerment through skill development. The organization supports women and girls in developing income-generating ventures, providing micro-financing and by providing resources for nursery school education.

Jammeh-Sidibe has promoted the Gambian practice of kafoolu to support women's empowerment. In the Gambia, kafoolu refers to the practice of developing collective organisations to advocate for specific objectives. Women's rights organisations in the country have successfully used the practice to enact political and social change.

She later became the executive director of The Gambian Women's Bureau. In this role, she worked with the Gambia's Ministry of Justice to create an amendment to the 2010 Women Act that would criminalize female genital mutilation in the country. The amendment was passed by parliament 2015. After retiring from her government position in 2019, Jammeh-Sidibe continues to advocate for women's health and empowerment through the Association for Promoting Girls and Women's Advancement (APGWA) and the Sobeya Skills training center, where she serves as executive director.

Later career and activism On 1 February 2020, the Gambian Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretariat Board of Governors appointed Jammeh Sidibe as the Chairperson of the National Local Organizing Committee for the 15th Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to be held in Banjul in 2022. The event would eventually be held in 2024.

In 2020, she was awarded a Vanguard African Achievers Award for her work supporting women's rights in the Gambia.

In 2024, she called on women in the Gambia to take a more active role in supporting women running for political positions, and to be brave about supporting women in politics in the country.

Publications

Binta Jammeh Sidibeh and Saim M. L. Kinteh. A Study on the Traditional Roles of Men and Women in a Gambian Society and how They Affect the Society. Economic Status of Women, Gambia National Women's Council & Bureau, 1990.