Leena Khaled Al-Mujahed

ALFA University College, Malaysia

Title: From conflict Zones to World Stages: How Struggle, Leadership, and Advocacy Empower Women Rising Beyond Borders

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Biography

Leena Al-Mujahed shares her personal journey from surviving war to leading global platforms for women’s empowerment. As a medical doctor, entrepreneur, and international advocate, she weaves a compelling narrative of how struggle can be transformed into purpose.

Dr. Leena will explore how women from conflict-affected backgrounds can become leaders, policymakers, and change-makers breaking stereotypes and rewriting their own futures.

Through real-world examples in leadership, advocacy, and economic empowerment, this session will showcase how women are not just surviving, they are rising beyond borders to build futures for themselves and their communities.

Abstract

This paper examines how women from conflict zones transcend borders to become influential leaders and advocates on the global stage. Despite facing extreme challenges—such as war, displacement, gender-based violence, and political marginalization—many women emerge as powerful agents of change. Through resilience, leadership, and advocacy, they navigate complex sociopolitical landscapes to challenge oppressive systems and elevate voices from their communities. Drawing on qualitative data and case studies from regions including Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, and Palestine, the study explores how women transform personal and collective struggle into platforms for peacebuilding, human rights, and gender equality. These women, ranging from grassroots organizers to internationally recognized diplomats and activists, often harness trauma and lived experience to engage in transnational movements, influence policymaking, and inspire others. The paper applies a feminist theoretical lens to understand how intersecting factors—such as identity, community solidarity, and access to global networks—support women’s transition from local actors to global change-makers. It highlights how leadership emerges not only from formal positions of power but also through storytelling, advocacy, education, and community mobilization. Key findings suggest that women’s empowerment in conflict and post-conflict settings is deeply rooted in their ability to form alliances, reframe victimhood into agency, and challenge structural inequalities. These efforts often lead to the creation of inclusive spaces and long-lasting social reforms. By shedding light on the journeys of these women, the paper emphasizes the need for global institutions to invest in inclusive leadership pipelines, amplify marginalized voices, and support grassroots initiatives. Ultimately, it contributes to broader discussions on gender, peace, and transformative leadership, showing that women rising from conflict zones are not only survivors—but leaders who shape more just and peaceful futures across borders.