Throughout my career in activism, I have had the opportunity to interact with so many extraordinary peacemakers, activists, scholars and practitioners at the forefront of striving for a peaceful world; however, meeting Dr. Bhatti was particularly exceptional. Dr. Bhatti possesses decades of invaluable experience as a human rights and peace activist at the forefront of social progress. But even more significant are the qualities she possesses that cannot be taught or gathered along the way. Her unshakable courage in the face of personal risk. Her relentless determination despite great obstacles. Her steadfast passion for peace. And most of all, her unswerving commitment to the people whose rights she fights endlessly to protect

It was often repeated about Mairead Corrigan that she was just an ordinary woman. The truth, however, is that she was not the daughter of any prominent leader, nor did she belong to any political party. She stood alone and called on people to support peace. Similarly, Rubina Bhatti, without exaggeration, like Mairead Corrigan, raised her voice for peace, women's rights, and marginalized communities several years ago. Her advocacy for these causes became a powerful movement, not just in Sargodha, but across Pakistan.

It was during her time as a peacemaker at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, here at the University of San Diego, that I first met Dr. Bhatti. Given her impressive and sustained record as a human rights and peace activist, as well as her numerous prestigious honors, I invited her to study under our Leadership Studies doctoral program. After completing PhD, Dr. Bhatti continues to use her platforms to promote communal harmony, gender equality, and respect for human rights across the globe. Her accomplishments are nothing short of extraordinary. As evidenced by her exceptional record of activism, I believe she is a leader whose likes are seen only once in a generation.

Dr. Bhatti is a trained theatre and mime artist with a deep passion for using art to promote human rights and create inclusive societies. I have known her for over two decades, and throughout this time, her leadership in combining art with social change has been truly inspiring. In traditional societies, it is rare to see a female leader who is also an artist, yet Dr. Bhatti has consistently used her artistic talents to empower communities. From writing scripts and performing street theatre to choreographing mimes for Sufi music and engaging youth through photography and art exhibitions, she is incredibly versatile. I had the privilege of working with her on the documentary Shackles Yet to Open, showcased at the SAARC festival. Her courageous, unconventional work, especially in the conservative city of Sargodha, led to her honorary membership in Pakistan Film Producers Association

In my role at GIWPS, I pay particular attention to extraordinary women in leadership around the world and even more particularly those who fight for the rights of others and who work for peace even when it puts their own safety at risk. I am also keen to recognize and support those who have the unusual combination of academic excellence and the translation of academia into the street wisdom of the people in working for liberty: religious liberty, women’s liberty, child rights, and democratic principles and practice. Having been exposed to the story of Dr. Bhatti, I recognize in her a colleague in arms, fighting for the rights of those who are too often marginalized and forgotten. Beyond her academic work, I am in deep admiration of Dr. Bhatti’s has work as a steadfast defender of human rights.

With a background in leadership studies and her previous work with human rights organizations and movements all over the world, Dr. Bhatti takes a global perspective on leadership and demonstrates that it is a transformational process that can contribute to foster a culture of human rights and interfaith harmony between peoples of all cultures and nationalities. Her understanding that everyone can exhibit leadership behavior and play a significant role in decision-making processes led her to an incredibly historical task of developing first-ever charter of demands for minority children that was presented to the Speaker of the National Assembly Pakistan and the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan by the delegation of minority children.

Dr. Bhatti’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to taking real action to protect human rights and to achieving a more peaceful and inclusive society where women and other marginalized people can live and lead. Her strategic activities over two decades have made differences in people’s lives, including in her home country of Pakistan where, as a Christian and a member of a religious minority, she has nonetheless become a public leader who is active in government and recognized internationally. Indeed, wherever she has been, she has contributed pragmatically and as a premier academic thought-leader

I invited Rubina Bhatti to be a keynote speaker for one of the annual Global Social Responsibility Conferences at St. Cloud State University where she spoke to hundreds of students, faculty, and human rights advocates. Dr. Bhatti is an effective leader that utilizes a global and intersectional approach to peace and justice advocacy. She recognizes the necessity of advocacy work alongside service-delivery and development projects. Traditionally, the perceived conflict between advocacy and service delivery is one of the significant insights explored by Dr. Bhatti both in her lived leadership experiences and her academic research. In reviewing more of her history than I was familiar with previously, I have become an even more ardent admirer of Dr. Bhatti's legacy and have no doubts about the future impact of her leadership.

Dr. Rubina is an academically informed practitioner who challenges the conventional approach to leadership. She facilitated my visit to the USA where we held various meetings and met with former president Jimmy Carter, Ambassador Brownback, U.S. Department of State staff, Commissioners of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, Co-Chair of the Pakistan Caucus, Congressional staff, UN representatives, academia, Pakistani diaspora, and civil society organizations. These meetings provided an opportunity to showcase our interfaith initiatives to a global audience. With a strong academic background in leadership studies and extensive experience working with human rights organizations worldwide, Dr. Rubina offers a truly global perspective on leadership. What sets her apart is her unique, cross-sector approach—bridging the gap between theory and practice, while fostering collaboration between government and nonprofit sectors to develop leadership within communities.

Dr. Bhatti has persisted in confronting the issues and advocating peaceful interfaith solutions. As one of the most prominent scholars in the fields of activism and leadership studies, she has written and spoken widely on the religious and social inequality in Pakistan— often at grave personal risk. Throughout her career, Dr. Bhatti's work as a practitioner in peacemaking, human rights, women's and children's rights, religious freedom, and religious minorities has made a substantial difference throughout the social landscape of Pakistan.

Dr. Bhatti is an extraordinary educator and research scholar as well as a political and social leader in Pakistan. Her expertise extends across the realms of academia, direct political and social activism, and community building. Despite earning two master’s degrees and a PhD degree, Dr. Bhatti has worked both in the classroom with the students, and in training halls with local communities. She has weaved these two roles together impactfully. Her passion for protecting the most marginalized populations is exemplary. The unique feature of her work is that she not only presents scholarly papers at academic conferences but also presents her diverse experience in global civil society forums. Her audience ranges from adults to children, from academics to practitioners and to social to political leaders.

Dr. Bhatti is one of the most disciplined, professional and dedicated women I know. She pursues the path to peace with constancy and commitment. Her ability to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and beliefs is productive and purposeful. She is a true leader who embraces equity and fairness. She is well-spoken, intelligent and trustworthy. She writes well and leads with calm and integrity.

Dr. Bhatti is a transformational leader and activist. She is intelligent, strategic, and dedicated. With an interdisciplinary PhD and decades of experience in community leadership in nonprofit management, she is at the forefront of building peaceful and sustainable communities in her home country and beyond.

There are few people in the world who are as knowledgeable as Dr. Rubina in understanding how community organizations and INGOs can develop strategies and tactics that can push the envelope in oppressive or restrictive environments. This requires the ability to stand up for peace and justice, assess the risks of actions and advocacy, and choose wisely to bring about change. She is a rare asset for accomplishing research at the academic level and operationalizing practice at the field level. She is well equipped academically, well connected to both the NGO world and the governmental world of Pakistan. I have known Dr. Rubina for approximately thirteen years and had the privilege to present her with the World Vision International Peace Prize, 2010.

Dr. Bhatti’s substantive accomplishments, her work in defending the rights of women and children in Pakistan is second to none. She is among the bravest human rights defenders I know. Her passion for defending the human rights of the marginalized and promoting a more democratic, more inclusive Pakistan, both makes her effective and gives her the courage to continue in the face of adversity. Dr. Bhatti also has a strong intellectual track record. As noted, she has multiple graduate degrees, has taught courses at the university level, and is an accomplished writer and speaker, has participated in a wide variety of conferences and seminars all over the world, and is comfortable engaging with a diverse variety of audiences.