Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté

Focus Areas

Doctor & Executive Director, Inter-African Committee

In 1983, Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté experienced a seismic shift in his life’ s trajectory. Two young girls died while in his medical care after experiencing FGM. Soon after, Dr. Kouyaté organized a meeting in Dakar, Senegal with representatives from 16 African countries. Together, they formed the Inter-African Committee (IAC) on Harmful Traditional Practices, whose mission is to end practices that endanger the health of women and children throughout Africa.

At the same time, Dr. Kouyaté founded the Guinean branch of the IAC, which began extensive in-country work on the topic. Over the past 35 years, Dr. Kouyaté has served Guinea in a variety of health-focused positions and has used each of these roles as an opportunity to leverage support to end FGM. He has also collaborated with the World Health Organization, United Nations, World Bank, African Union and many other entities to provide expert testimony, facilitate international trainings and more. Further, he has galvanized governments to engage in policy reform while providing guidance on best approaches to prevent and respond to FGM.

His work reached a pinnacle moment in 2012, when the UN General Assembly passed a resolution, which Dr. Kouyaté co- authored, calling on all countries to end FGM/C.

Dr. Kouyate was selected as one of the 2018 Solidarity Honorees for his work ending gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices. See his remarks below.