I have come to understand that in order to effectively advance women's rights, we need to galvanize a global women's movement.

Growing up under Saddam's rule, I witnessed many injustices occurring everyday in my country and yet I could not do anything to prevent them.

Historically speaking, religious and conservative groups always wanted the control over the private sphere that impacts women most, as reflected by family law and women's access to resources and mobility. And often secular groups traded this for economic incentives and trade.

Women are part of peace keeping troops in countries like Liberia.

I find it amazing that the only group of people who are not fighting and not killing and not pillaging and not burning and not raping, and the group of people who are mostly — though not exclusively — who are keeping life going in the midst of war, are not included in the negotiating table.

I firmly believe today that the only way to stop violence against women is to speak out and refused to be silenced.

I believe that leadership acts should be manifested by engaging in external work that can be observed and shared with everyone else.