At 16, Jakomba Jabbie is one of the most vocal advocates for the education of all girls in the Gambia, especially when it comes to science and technology skills.

FGM is a long-running harmful traditional practice in her community in Gambia that has led generations of women to a lifetime of pain, a lack of control of their own bodily integrity and sexuality, and debilitating health risks, including death. The taboo surrounding the topic has impeded women to freely discuss their experiences of harm and suffering caused by FGM.

At a recent dialogue in Gambia, regional networks of women living with HIV called on policymakers to address women’s property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV.

A group of motorcycle buffs joined forces with Harley-Davidson Johannesburg and UN Women in a novel initiative to raise awareness about violence against women and girls. Over 16 days, they rode 8,200 km, across Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.