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

Everything can be taken from you in a second, but the human spirit is so strong. War can teach you so much about evil, and so much about good.

As women, we must speak out, speak up, say no to our inheritance of loss and yes to a future of women-led dialogue about women's rights and value.

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.

Since a very young age, my mother made sure to tell me about the plight of women... As she raised my awareness about women's issues, she also made sure to ingrain in me the importance of being strong and independent and not to let anybody define me by their images of what women should be.

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

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