Honoring the life of Nur Aisyah Maullidah (Aisy)

At 22 she was both a recent graduate of the Nobel Women's Sister-to-Sister program and had just completed her third year of University, majoring in International Relations.

Aisy's involvement as a young advocate of women, peace and security began in high school. Being born female in a city stigmatized as the 'hometown of terrorists' gave rise to her interest in gender and security issues. She was introduced to the realm of preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) and women and youth in peace and security (WPS-YPS) in various programs. She advocated for the participation of young women in all discussions, processes and decisions related to peacebuilding.

To this end she contributed to bilateral meetings with UN Women, the National Commission for Women (Komnas Perempuan), the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT), the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (2018), and the Beijing+25 Women, Peace and Security - Youth, Peace, and Security (B+25 WPS-YPS) Action Coalition Launch Meeting (2019).

After being part of the Young Women's League for Peace Indonesia, she cast her net wide wider, embracing youth empowerment and joining youth-based communities concerned with interfaith cooperation, human rights and international affairs.

She believed that eliminating inequality was the pathway to sustainable peace, that everyone could be a key actor, and that no-one should be left behind.

Pursuing safe spaces, opportunities and support for all was her young life's work.

On this journey she discovered the power of her own voice:

"That was actually my favourite moment when I realized the importance of my voice. In 2021, I was reading a book under a lime tree in my home. At that time, the weather was a bit cloudy. While reading I could feel the breeze, I could only here my breathing and my voice inside my mind. I felt at peace. That made me feel alive. Before that, in 2019, I was in a conference, and I was the youngest participant. I was representing my country Indonesia. At that time I shared my story and my community heard me. At that time as well, I felt alive. My voice completes me, it brings freedom, and helps me to feel alive. Voice for me is life."

The world is going to miss Aisy's voice.

More about Aisy's life can be found on her Instagram: @aisyishaya

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