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

Like life, peace begins with women. We are the first to forge lines of alliance and collaboration across conflict divides.

No change can come if those who are impacted the most by discrimination are not willing to stand up for themselves.

Women still need higher political representation and to be included at decision making tables in all issues in order for solutions that relates from peace to food, to health, to basic stability in the world. We cannot continue to marginalize half of the population in the world in finding sustainable solutions that are good for all.

It appears easier to talk about protecting women than it is to fully include women at all decision-making levels in peace talks and post-conflict planning.

I believe that there is an urgent need to restructure the discussion of war to include the impact it has on women.

Living in war is a co- existence with death.