Awa Gai is a feminist human rights lawyer specialising in women’s rights and gender justice. She is enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of The Gambia. Awa has made significant contributions to women’s rights, notably founding her country’s first and largest women’s awards platform, celebrating women and inspiring girls. Previously, Awa supported The Gambia’s transitional justice process working with Democracy International. She also served at the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa as a Waging Justice for Women Fellow under the Clooney Foundation for Justice initiative.

Awa holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa from the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, where she received a graduate placement with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Her LLM thesis focused on enhancing access to justice for women in The Gambia.

Awa was recognised in Africa Legal’s Top Millennial by People’s Accolade Law Magazine and received the JuristForte Award from the PathMothers Organisation in The Gambia in 2025, honouring her commitment to using the law, advocacy, and justice for meaningful change. She is also a 2024 Mandela Washington Fellow and a She’s the First Fellow (2021-2024).