 In 2016, she was given an International Women of Courage Award by the U.S. Secretary of State.M'Baye was born in 1957, she was forcibly married at age 12 to a 45-year-old man, but fought her family for the chance to attend school.From 1981 to 1985 she studied law and economics at the University of Nouakchott and she became the first female lawyer in her home country.