Esther Bizuri is our 1325 scholar in the DRC
Giving women a stronger voice in peace and security efforts lies at the heart of Esther Bizuri’s commitment. As this year’s Congolese 1325 Scholar, she aims to strengthen women’s role as active agents of change.
As a lawyer with a focus on human rights and peacebuilding, Esther will spend one year with the civil society organization Kvinna till Kvinna, at their local office in Bukavu. The region, located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has long been affected by unrest and conflict. When Esther was two years old, the situation was so severe that her mother was forced to flee with her, first to Kenya and then to Uganda.
“Although displacement had a profound impact on my childhood, my young single mother always fought for me to ensure I could continue my education. This is something I am deeply grateful for today.”
The war and the injustices she witnessed motivated her later to study law, to defend the rights of women and girls, who are doubly victimized by the conflict in the DRC.
“I have been shaped by witnessing the injustices faced by women and girls in poor, conflict-affected communities. Where young girls are deprived of education, and women excluded from decision-making. But even more, I have been strengthened by seeing the resilience and determination of the women around me, who continue to support their families despite the extremely difficult circumstances they live in.”
Her experiences have convinced her of how crucial women’s influence and empowerment are to building just and peaceful societies.
“Every woman and girl deserves dignity, security, and opportunities of her own. Through my work with vulnerable girls and women, I have personally seen how something as fundamental as access to education can completely transform their future prospects.”
The 1325 Scholarship, established in memory of Zaida Catalán, was launched by the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) in 2020 on behalf of the Swedish government. It gives young peacebuilders the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and professional experience in issues related to women’s participation in peacebuilding and conflict resolution in their home countries.
Esther hopes that her year with Kvinna till Kvinna will provide new insights into advocacy work and the strengthening of women’s rights. At the same time, she looks forward to contributing with practical tools, based on her own experience of combining her legal expertise with community action.
“My goal is to strengthen women’s voices in peace and security processes, by serving as a bridge between local initiatives and international efforts. For me, this scholarship is a symbol of women’s solidarity, but also an inspiration to continue my work against gender-based violence at all levels of society.”
