Ubah Ali

Ubah Ali (born 1996) is a social activist and feminist from Somaliland, who campaigns against female genital mutilation. In 2020 she was listed by the BBC as of the world's most influential 100 Women.

Ubah Ali
Born1996
Burco
CitizenshipSomaliland
EducationAmerican University of Beirut
Occupation Somali activist
AwardsBBC's 100 Women List

Biography

Ali was born in 1996 in Burco in the Toghdeer region of Somaliland.[1] Neither of her parents graduated from primary school: her father was a taxi driver until her suffered a stroke in 2012 and her mother used to sell clothes.[2] It was her mother who encouraged Ali's education and for her to apply for scholarships.[3] She studied at the Abaarso School of Science and Technology from 2011 and left there in 2015.[4] She then moved to Miss Hall's School and graduated from there in 2016.[5] As of 2019, she was studying for a BA degree in Politics and Human Rights at the American University of Beirut.[1] Her undergraduate study is funded by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.[2] Whilst studying there, she also tutors Syrian refugees.[4]

Activism

In 2015, aged 18, Ali established an organization called Rajo: Hope for Somaliland Community with the aim of providing educational opportunities for orphans and under-privileged students from Somaliland.[5] This was inspired by work she undertook at the Hargeisa Orphanage Centre, between 2012 and 2015, where she tutored students there.[5] In 2015 she also fundraised for communities in Somaliland affected by drought.[4]

In 2020, Ali became more widely known due to her campaigning against female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somaliland.[1] In 2018 she founded the Solace for Somaliland Girls Foundation, which aims to end the practice through education and awareness campaigns.[1] The group established the first anti-FGM group in Somaliland as a result.[3] Whilst many Somali people associate FGM with Sharia Law, Ali alongside doctors and a growing number of religious leaders believe it to be a cultural phenomenon, which can be altered.[1] Ali, as well as her three sisters, are survivors of FGM.[1]

In 2020, Ubah Ali was part of the BBC’s list of the 100 most influential women in the world.[6][7]

Awards

References
  1. "UNPO: Ubah Ali, Somaliland". unpo.org. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  2. Somaliland Sun (2018-11-05). "Somaliland: 22 Years Old Victim of FGM Ubah Ali now Fighting to End the Practice". Somaliland Sun. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  3. linaduque (2020-09-28). "Ubah Ali, Activist". Untold. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  4. "OUR STUDENTSS". Abaarso Network. 2020-04-13. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  5. "Ubah Ali". The Resolution Project. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  6. "BBC 100 Women 2020: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  7. "How Nigerians Aisha Yesufu, Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim enta BBC 100 Women list". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
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