As a child, she escaped during the night in a tiny boat when the rebel soldiers came to her village. Years later, Yasmin Busan-Lao played a central role in the peace negotiations in the conflict-affected region of Mindanao. The discrimination she experienced as a refugee led her to dedicate her life to equality and justice, particularly for women, whether as an educator, researcher or development practitioner. Changing patterns of conflict requires a change in the mindset of men, she says.