Join us for another compelling session in our Voices for Change series, featuring two trailblazing women who have led transformative efforts for peace, justice, and political inclusion in their home countries of Sri Lanka and Yemen. Through decades of frontline work—from peace negotiations and ceasefire mediation to grassroots organizing and political advocacy—Visaka Dharmadasa and Dr. Bilqis Abu-Osba have challenged exclusion, elevated women’s leadership, and forged new paths for civic participation in the midst of conflict and transition.
Together, they will reflect on the power of civic leadership in times of crisis, the critical importance of inclusive national dialogue, and how women’s voices and experiences shape more just and sustainable futures. Drawing on their lived experiences and strategic engagement with governments, communities, and international actors, they will explore how inclusive processes can heal divided societies, reclaim public space, and ensure that transitions center human rights and dignity. Their insights offer not only powerful inspiration but also concrete lessons for Syrians seeking to navigate complex political realities and build a future grounded in justice, accountability, and democratic values.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
10-11:30 AM New York | 5-6:30 PM Damascus Time | 4-5:50 PM CET
🔗 Register now here
Guest Speakers
Visaka Dharmadasa is the founder and Chair of the Association of War Affected Women and Parents of Servicemen Missing in Action. A key peacebuilder during Sri Lanka’s civil war, she helped broker the ceasefire between the government and the LTTE and united women across conflict lines. She educates soldiers and leaders on international humanitarian law and promotes UN Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security. Visaka trains women for political leadership and power sharing, and in 2023 facilitated a historic dialogue between Buddhist monks and the Tamil diaspora, resulting in the six-point Himalaya Declaration. Her work has earned multiple honors, including the 2006 Humanitarian Award from InterAction (Washington D.C.), the 2022 Human Rights Salutation, and the 2024 USIP Women Building Peace Award. A nominee for the 2005 collective Nobel Peace Prize, she has advised the Sri Lankan government and international bodies on reconciliation and human rights. She is affiliated with numerous peace networks, including WASL, GPPAC, and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, and holds a Harvard degree in negotiations, mediation, and women’s security.
Dr. Bilqis Abu-Osba is a professor of political science and gender studies at Sana’a University, with extensive experience in government, civil society, and humanitarian work. She served as Vice-President of Yemen’s Supreme National Authority for Combating Corruption and has represented Yemen and Yemeni women at numerous international forums. In 2005, she founded the Awam Cultural Development Foundation to promote women’s political participation. Dr. Abu-Osba has played a key role in establishing networks and alliances advocating for women and youth, particularly during Yemen’s transitional period. During the National Dialogue Conference, she led advocacy campaigns to amplify women’s voices and ensure their presence. She participated in the Kuwait negotiations as one of seven women advocating for inclusion, and in the Sweden consultations as a member of the UN Special Envoy’s Women’s Advisory Group. She was also invited to the signing of the Riyadh Agreement and served on the political committee during the Riyadh consultations. She currently serves as rapporteur of the political committee within the Consultation and Reconciliation Commission supporting the Presidential Leadership Council.