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

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

Long-term trauma for women who have survived armed conflict is a haunting reminder that health issues and depression can follow decades after the end of war, but women who hope for healing can and do move forward.

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

I believe that a lot of progress has been achieved to address gender inequality: We have moved from a time where women in the US could not apply for credit card without their husband's signature to a time where women are the owners of their businesses.

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

Without women's full inclusion at the decision making table, we cannot have any healthy decision making that is good for men and women alike.