Jaha Dukureh is at the forefront of an international movement to empower women.

Time Magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. She was nominated for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. She was named a UN Women Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa, and on Sunday, she was 1 of 6 people honored at the 32nd Annual Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal Ceremony.

As a baby, Dukureh's labia were mutilated and partly removed, as is the custom in some parts of her native Gambia. At age 15, she was forced to marry. She has since lobbied — successfully — for a ban against those practices in Gambia. She is now campaigning against female genital mutilation (FGM) in America, usually by Africans who have immigrated here.

During her U.S. lobbying efforts, she has become familiar with United States politics.

"I don't want to go too deep into politics, but I think it's a very concerning time," Dukureh said, during a brief interview before the ceremony.

Dukureh, now an American citizen living in Georgia, said she has noticed a clear difference in attitudes on social issues between average Americans and American politicians.

"I think the average American gets it," she said. "The people with the power to make a difference? Not so much."

Dukureh has been meeting with women around the world, and in her estimation, the women's movement overall is very strong. She said, though, she has not yet seen policy budge despite growing passion by American women of both mainstream political parties. She stressed the need for more women leaders.

"You don't see people like me in those places [of power]," Dukureh said. "It's normally old, white men who are making decisions about our lives. I think that's why women's political participation is very, very important."

According to current polling, there may be more people like Dukureh in power after the November midterm elections. Pollsters have attributed an increase in female candidates and participation to movements like Dukureh's and the #MeToo movement.

The other advocates receiving medals on Sunday were: the founder of the MeToo Movement, Tarana Burke; Dutchess County Community College President Dr. Pamela Eddington; Civil Rights Attorney Robbie Kaplan; Judge Albert Rosenblatt; and Screenwriter Loung Ung.