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Salzburg Global Fellow Ayessa Tin on women’s participation in peace building and her expectations for the Asia Peace Innovators Forum
This interview was conducted prior to Salzburg Global's Asia Peace Innovators Forum in-person program in June 2023.
Ayessa Tin is a program analyst for the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program of the UN Women's Philippine Project Office, and she is a Fellow of Salzburg Global’s Asia Peace Innovators Forum. We contacted Ayessa to hear about her work and expectations, as the 2023 cohort prepared to convene in Salzburg.
“Some religious and traditional practices say that leadership and authority is a man's domain and that women do not have anything to do with leadership. So, since the work of WPS wants to push for women's meaningful participation, we realize this is easier said than done. So what we're doing is at least be able to push for the agenda of having women participate in effective decision-making processes such as engaging them through conflict mediators in their communities.”
Ayesha focuses on addressing the challenges faced by women and girls in conflict-affected communities. She works towards meaningful participation of women in peacebuilding, with a particular emphasis on the Bangsamoro region, a patriarchal society influenced by cultural and religious practices. Ayessa's work involves engaging women in policy development through consultations, advocating for their interests and issues, and collaborating with legislative members to champion their causes. At the policy level, Ayessa’s work involved engaging women to develop policy briefs. They undertake this to let the Bangsamoro government in the Philippines know what women’s interests and issues are, especially in the areas of particular legislation.
She supports women mediators by providing training in conflict mediation and connecting them with formal mechanisms and government structures to institutionalize their participation. Ayessa's efforts aim to create spaces for women in local government structures, such as to involve women in conflict resolution processes. She values partnerships with women-led civil society organizations that promote the women, peace and security agenda. She also contributes to peacebuilding in the Bangsamoro region, which is undergoing a transition phase after a long history of conflict.
Ayessa's passion for women, peace, and security work stems from her early professional experience in conflict and peacebuilding, which sparked her interest in contributing to peace efforts. Despite a six-year gap, Ayessa returned to this field and dedicated herself to promoting women's participation in peacebuilding. She believes in women's immense capacity and crucial role in building sustainable peace. Ayesha finds inspiration in the idea that she can empower women to contribute to peace processes. Witnessing the stories of women who are mothers and caregivers further strengthens her sense of purpose and fulfillment, both professionally and personally. Ayessa's commitment to this meaningful work remains steadfast, driven by the desire to create a space where women's voices and actions can shape a more peaceful future.
“What excites me with [the Asia Peace Innovators Forum] is that I get the chance to gain a more insightful and deeper perspective on peacebuilding in general, which means that it's a chance to hear about and it's a chance for me to talk about the work that I do. But at the same time, it also allows me to listen to other professionals' efforts and initiatives and experiences and various other areas.”
Regarding Ayessa’s inspiration to join the Salzburg Global program, Ayessa says that she was initially introduced to it by her country head, who believed it would align with her goals and aspirations. What excites her most about the Asia Peace Innovators Forum is the opportunity to gain deeper insights into peacebuilding and engage in meaningful discussions about her work. Moreover, Ayessa values the chance to learn from the experiences and initiatives of fellow professionals from various fields. Ayessa finds solace in the fact that the program reminds her that she is not alone in her pursuit of peacebuilding and that numerous dedicated individuals across Asia and the world are working towards the same goal.
Since coming to Salzburg in June 2023, Ayessa has been working alongside other Salzburg Global Fellows on a project titled "Promoting Peace Through Mediation".