My message to the world is that until we recognize that peace is not just the absence of war but the revival of life on the "backlines," where women are keeping kids in school, caring for the sick and injured, and daily negotiating space for the continuation of critical life processes of this nature, we're going to continue to miss the point.

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

I dont want to be someone in my sixties holding on to a group that I created when I was in my twenties.

I grew up with injustice and could do nothing about it. But once in America, I had freedom of choice.

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.

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