Only 8 percent of peace talks have included women at any level.

It is the diversity of views that stems from different experiences and different backgrounds that lead to healthy decision-making and not the unified experiences and unified views.

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

Only 1 in 13 participants in peace negotiations since 1992 has been a woman.

Since war often enters homes through the "kitchen door," we need to understand women's attempts to keep life going in the face of shortage of food, closing of schools and reduced freedoms.

From joblessness to lack of education and professional skills to sexual and gender-based violence, women face a multi-faceted oppression.

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