2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee calls herself “a local girl with a global platform.” Leymah is not only an inspiration to women in Liberia; she is a role model for women around the world. Her leadership was clearly demonstrated last month in Sri Lanka, where she met women's groups from throughout the country working on peace, security, and development.

Today, supporters of human rights mark the Global Day for International Justice, an anniversary the need for which makes ‘celebration' difficult, if not impossible. A cursory look over last year of developments as it relates to securing justice for the most egregious of crimes—war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide—might yield cause for optimism, however.

If people have heard of the Southeast Asian country known alternately as “Myanmar” or “Burma,” they are just as likely to have heard mention of its national heroine: pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi.

Experts on preventing violence against women and girls are meeting this week in Bangkok to examine promising practices on prevention and present recommendations to the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). CSW is the principal global policy-making body on gender equality and the advancement of women.

By Afshan Khan, CEO, Women for Women International

For almost two years I lived in a small village on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific. Here I worked with some of the most inspiring women in the world.

Bogotá, 3 September 2012

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT JUAN MANUEL SANTOS
WOMEN AT THE NEGOTIATION TABLE
Mr. JUAN MANUEL SANTOS
President of the Republic of Colombia
Bogotá

Dear President Santos:

This year, 2012, the International Day of Peace is on a Friday, special activities and celebrations will take place all across the world over the 2012 Peace Day Weekend, including festivals, concerts, a global Peace Wave with moments of silence at noon in every time zone, and much more.

Breaking Barriers:
What it will take to achieve security, justice and peace

A public conference of peacebuilders held in conjunction
with the 10th anniversary of the Women PeaceMakers Program
at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice

I have heard a great deal of the magnificent scenery of your country, but seeing surpasses my expectations and the affection I have received has added to the joy of seeing the scenery of your country. I wish I had more time at my disposal to make the acquaintance of individuals and to see the beautiful spots of this country of yours. But I must not detain you by inviting you to share my joy.