A NOBEL Peace Prize nominee who helped end a 50-year conflict in her native Philippines has given an inspirational speech at the University of Bradford. 

Former journalist Irene Santiago, recognised as one of the world’s most outstanding women peacemakers, put an end to the violent conflict in the Paquibato district with her Peace 911 programme. 

She is currently rolling out the programme to other parts of the country as Senior Adviser on Peacebuilding of the Local Government Academy of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Ms Santiago told guests: “Behaving badly as a feminist makes one adept at organising mayhem and movement that leads to change.”

She travelled from the Philippines to deliver this year’s Adam Curle lecture on ‘A Feminist Does Peacebuilding’ at the University’s Department of Peace Studies and International Development.

She has spent 40 years in conflict negotiation, worked with the UN, and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

Sharing her advice on how to end the Sudan crisis, she urged Sudanese women to organise non-violent action. 

She believes the creation of another violent force to end fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces, is not the answer. 

The university’s Peace Studies department is marking its 50th anniversary throughout 2023.