By: Sylvia Abu Laban
Ambassador of the State of Palestine in Bosnia and Herzegovina
At a time when global crises, wars, and conflicts are increasing, International Women’s Day once again raises an essential question: does the world see women as victims of crises, or as forces capable of rebuilding societies?
From Jerusalem to Sarajevo, two human experiences shaped by the collective memory of war and perseverance intersect. In both cities, women were not only witnesses to history, but also its creators. When political systems collapsed and crises intensified, women were often the first to restore the social fabric and protect the very idea of life itself.
A Palestinian woman, like many women in conflict-affected areas around the world, lives a complex equation that combines pain and responsibility every day. She preserves education in the shadow of instability, builds a family economy under pressure, and sows hope in generations who have grown up amid an unjust reality. Despite this, this role is rarely recognized as true leadership.
The global challenge today is not only about empowering women, but also about redefining the very concept of leadership. Leadership is no longer just about steely strength, but also about the ability to persevere, manage crises, and build trust within divided societies. These are skills that women have developed through long human experience, not only through institutions.
Europe, which has experienced wars and later managed to build a model of cooperation and peace, knows better than anyone that reconstruction begins with people. Here, the crucial role of women as guardians of collective memory and builders of social reconciliation becomes evident, because without the full participation of women, peace remains fragile, development incomplete, and democracy lacking.
Indeed, the experience of women in Palestine and Bosnia and Herzegovina reminds us that justice is not only a legal concept, but also an everyday human experience. A woman who protects her family, preserves education, and sustains life under the most difficult circumstances exercises a form of civic leadership that the world needs today more than ever.
On International Women’s Day, we do not need more symbolic celebration, but a genuine partnership that recognizes the role of women in creating policies, building peace, and leading the future. A world that gives women their rightful place in decision-making positions is a more stable and humane world.
Because women are not seeking an additional role in history; rather, they prove every day that they have always been a fundamental part of its creation.
