Leonésia Tecla da Silva has over 20 years of experience in peacebuilding and mediation, focusing on conflict resolution, women’s economic empowerment, youth engagement, and social cohesion. A Peace Studies graduate from Universidade da Paz, she supported the Government of Timor-Leste in implementing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, helping establish the country’s first national network of mediators and co-drafting the second-generation UNSCR 1325 National Action Plan. Recognized as a WPS pioneer, she advances gender-responsive justice mechanisms, linking peacebuilding architecture to conflict prevention and inclusive governance. Her advocacy promotes women’s participation in development through legal frameworks supporting economic empowerment, land rights, climate adaptation, and tourism. Tecla represents marginalized voices within the Southeast Asian Women Peace Mediators network, contributing to regional and global mediation efforts across Southeast Asia and beyond. Her work on women’s meaningful participation in mediation, access to justice, and human rights was featured at Women4Multilateralism in Geneva on International Women’s Day 2022.
