1000 Peace Women

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The Federal Culture Office described the 2,208-page illustrated book as "one of the best books of 2005". Design: Tania Prill, Alberto Vieceli. Kontrast Verlag, Zurich, Publisher: Scalo, Zurich. swissinfo.ch

Nigar Ahmad, Pakistan Under Nigar Ahmad's leadership, women have been mobilised to stand as candidates in local government elections and to take part in UN macro-development programmes. swissinfo.ch

Lidia Grafova, Russian Federation "I am where pain is." Lidia Grafova fights to protect the rights of refugees and migrants all over the Russian Federation. She travels throughout the Caucasus region organising humanitarian aid for people who have suffered in political and ethnic armed conflicts. swissinfo.ch

Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta (KPKT), Australia "We are only the caretakers of the country. If we look after it, it will look after us." In 1998 the Kungkas – Aboriginal women elders – spearheaded a campaign against government plans to dump nuclear waste on their homelands. They joined forces with diverse groups across the country to stop the multi-million dollar project in 2004. (© Judith Ragg, Fiji) swissinfo.ch

Lotti Latrous, Ivory Coast/Switzerland "I receive more than I give. In the hospice I feel God's presence. I see him in Emmanuel's smile, feel him at Aimé's bedside, and recognise him in the gestures of blind Felix. This is my place." In 2002 Lotti Latrous opened a hospice for Aids patients in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Her next project is to open an orphanage for children whose parents have died of Aids. (© Gabriella Baumann-von Arx, Switzerland) swissinfo.ch

María Ramona Isabel Noguera Dominguez, Paraguay "I promised myself that I would do everything possible to avoid any other mother ever having to shed tears for the death of a son, caused by maltreatment inside the armed forces." After her son was tortured to death during military service in 1996, María Ramona Noguera launched a campaign for justice. swissinfo.ch

Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls, Fiji "The main objective of my work as a journalist with "FemLINKpacific" is to bring the stories of our women and their communities to the forefront, to help promote peace and reconciliation in multi-ethnic Fiji." Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls produces a quarterly magazine "femTALK 1325" covering women's peace initiatives and post-conflict needs in Fiji. She also runs FemTALK 89.2FM, a monthly mobile women's community radio service. (© Judith Ragg, Fiji) swissinfo.ch

Moza Al-Malki, Oman "To me peace is civilisation, progress, stability, security, justice, equality, coexistence in a world full of love, spiritual and mundane interaction." Every day more official jobs are secured by women in Qatar, thanks to the efforts of women like Princess Moza Al-Malki. Women assume positions of authority, including ministries in the Qatari government and municipal council membership. swissinfo.ch

Regina Makunga, South Africa "Children are the custodians of our culture and way of life. This helps to instil pride of self and culture." In 1994 the future of Zamani Pre-School in Transkei Province looked bleak. Then Regina Makunga (Mam'u Makunga) volunteered to keep the community project running; today it provides a refuge for children and assists them in their early childhood development. swissinfo.ch

Wang Pinsong, China "Without Jinsha River and without the village, we will not be able to keep our little home here!" In 2004 the rights of indigenous people along the Jinsha River were threatened, particularly a hydropower project. Wang Pinsong brought together different ethnic groups, including Naxi, Hmong, Lisu, Tibetan, Pumi, Bai and Han, to fight for their rights. swissinfo.ch

Eva-Elvira Klonowski, Iceland "Working from the heart gives me compassion for the dead and their families, as I try to reconstruct their lost identities and act on behalf of those who were robbed of their precious lives." Dr Eva-Elvira Klonowski, a leading forensic anthropologist, was part of the first team assembled by the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia to exhume and identify the remains from mass graves. swissinfo.ch

Macedonia Blas, Mexico "Everything can be achieved, bit by bit, little by little." Macedonia Blas, who is a Ñañhú Indian, is the mother of 11 children, an organiser, a trainer and a defender of Mexican indigenous women. (© Fiona McGuinness, USA) swissinfo.ch

Mallika Vikram Sarabhai, India "While playing Draupadi and travelling with the Mahabharata team across over 30 countries, Mallika realized that art was the best medium to bring about social change." Dancer, choreographer, actor and writer Mallika Sarabhai has been using art as a medium to fight injustice for the past 22 years, from working with children to highlighting women's issues in the media. swissinfo.ch

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Millions of women around the world campaign daily against violence and war.

The Swiss initiative “1,000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize” nominated women activists from over 150 countries for the 2005 prize. The nomination and the subsequent publication of a book, “1,000 Peace Women Across the Globe”, made their names known.