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

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

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.

Women have never been a chief negotiator in any UN-sponsored talks.

I find it amazing that the only group of people who are not fighting and not killing and not pillaging and not burning and not raping, and the group of people who are mostly — though not exclusively — who are keeping life going in the midst of war, are not included in the negotiating table.

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

Where has change ever been clean and nice? It has always been messy and painful.