Mandira Sharma born Baglung, Nepal June 2, 1972. Nepali lawyer and human rights activist. Founded Advocacy Forum to protest government abuses of its opponents in civil war, 2001. Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005; received Human Rights Watch Defender Award, 2006.
"Human beings do not have the right to kill another human being, nobody has that right, you have the right to do only good things." (worldpeoplesblog; photo bbc.co.uk)
Zaibun Siraj born Singapore April 13, 1947. Human rights activist. Co-founded feminist Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), 1985.
“STOP THE INSANITY: My Plea to Stop the Crimes and Sexual Jihad Performed by ISIS. When will this insanity end? When will the people conducting these insane activities realize that what they are doing is so wrong? It is a shame that there are people in this world who choose to perform acts of violence, cruelty and inhumane activities in the name of religion. Take ISIS. . . why does it think that it has the support of God in what it is doing? Any rational human being can tell that what ISIS is doing is not something supported by God. The reason for this is that God does not condone violence and cruelty. The world too, does not tolerate the crimes committed by ISIS. The acts committed by ISIS are not Islamic and they do not manifest the ideals of Islam. ISIS activities are contrary to the ideals of Islam. Islam promotes and upholds justice, kindness, fairness, freedom of faith and coexistence.” (blog, Sep. 3, 2014; photo zaibun.com)
Latifah Anum Siregar born Jayapura, West Papua, Indonesia September 28, 1968. Indonesian human rights advocate. General Secretary Papua Muslim Assembly 2007-11; chair of Alliance for Democracy in Papua; member of Papua parliament. Awarded 2015 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights “for exemplifying the ideals of human rights and peace, and for her nonviolent endeavors despite multiple threats and kidnappings.”
“People may have different views of life that may create conflicts. If we do not understand and forgive each other, life in the earth is diminishing and it is getting harder to achieve the needs. Forgiveness means to open and give chances to come into life more peacefully.” (Ara Pacis Initiative; photo unrepresented nations
Maha Chakri Sirindhorn born Bangkok, Thailand April 2, 1955. Thai educator who won Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2004, Magsaysay Award 1991; UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador 2005.
"The reason I like to help people is, I guess, because I'm used to it." (1985 interview on community development)
"Development is not only measured by economic growth. Development also means good public health, appropriate education, wise use of natural resources, conservation of the environment and culture, equitable income distribution, job opportunities, and the freedom to choose one’s own way of living." (Dec. 8, 1990, year-end conference; photo UNESCO)
Mu Sochua born Phnom Penh, Cambodia May 15, 1954. Human rights activist. Founded Cambodia's first women’s organization Khemara, 1991. Led thousands of nuns and monks in march for peace and non-violence during 1993 election. As Minister of Women’s Affairs, helped pass Prevention of Domestic Violence law, and negotiated agreements with neighboring lands to stop traffic in women, 1998-2004; resigned in protest against corruption. Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005. Awarded Eleanor Roosevelt Prize for leadership in human rights, 2009.
“My approach to peace has always been through building voices and forces with various groups, either at local, national, regional or international level. I strongly believe in a life free from fear and violence.” (sochua.wordpress.com/bio; photo vitalvoices.org)
Razia Sultana born July 5, 1973 Rakhine, Myanmar. Sultana is a Rohingya lawyer, researcher and educator specializing in trauma, mass rape and trafficking of Rohingya girls and women, now practicing law in Bangladesh. She has been working with Rohingya women and girls in the refugee camps in Bangladesh documenting the stories of women and girls who fled Myanmar, exposing the widespread and systematic use of sexual violence during ‘clearance operations’ against the Rohingya. She is a Senior Researcher with Kalandan Press, a coordinator of the Free Rohingya Coalition, Director of Arakan Rohingya National Organization’s women section and the founder of Rohingya Women Welfare.
“First she must trust in herself. She must grow the confidence to say: Yes I can. I am not a burden. If women can think that, they can achieve anything.”
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
