What does peace mean for you, your community and your country?
Peace is when women feel safe. They’re free from any kind of violence. They can actually realise their rights and speak up whenever they want to speak up on any issues and take matters in their hands very safely and securely.
In what special ways do women bring peace to the world?
I think women are always the worse affected, along with children, in any kind of conflict situation, be it armed conflict, communal violence or any kind of riot situation. I think that they have a legitimate right to claim that the government acts to ensure their participation in the various processes of peacebuilding. And they bring a lot of peace also because they have intervened in various conflict situations. Women are at the forefront with their local activitism.
How do you maintain hope when there isn’t always peace around you?
It’s a very personal answer. I think there is enough good around. It’s not a very rosy picture, certainly, but what actually gives hope is the thin silver lining in the cloud that is still there.