Being a leader for me is about having the courage to speak the truth, and live the truth, despite attempts to silence our thoughts, feelings, and past experiences.

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

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.

War is not a computer-generated missile striking a digital map. War is the color of earth as it explodes in our faces, the sound of child pleading, the smell of smoke and fear. Women survivors of war are not the single image portrayed on the television screen, but the glue that holds families and countries together. Perhaps by understanding women, and the other side of war ... we will have more humility in our discussions of wars... perhaps it is time to listen to womens side of history.

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

Women are not just victims; they are survivors and leaders on the community-level backlines of peace and stability.

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