General Women, Peace and Security - News

The number of women and girls jailed by Afghan authorities for "moral crimes" has risen by 50 percent in the last year and a half, an alarming statistic that reflects the Afghan government's need to step up efforts to protect women's rights, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday.

Islamic fundamentalist politicians in Afghanistan have stopped a debate on whether to give parliamentary approval to a law protecting women against violence.

India's "Red Brigade" is a group of angry young women with a simple message for the country's sexual predators: change your ways or be ready to face the consequences.

Asha Haji Elmi was born in Somalia in 1962 where she graduated from the Somali National University in Mogadishu. She e also holds a Master's degree in business administration from the International University of the United States. And 'the wife of Abdi Farah Shirdon, current Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia in August 2012 and is herself Somali Federal Member of Parliament, one of the few MPs of the transition period (2004-2009) to be re-elected. She'was the founder of the Association for the salvation of Women and Children (SSWC) in 1992, at the height of the civil war, and in 2000 promoted the Sixth Clan Association, movement for the promotion of Somali women in the political life of the country. It has also committed to the banning of female genital mutilation, a practice widespread in Somalia. She is currently working in Somalia against sexual violence against women and held a discussion on the topic during the London conference on Somalia in which, for Italy, was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emma Bonino.

Egyptian women are livid after an advisor to President Mohamed Morsi said that statistics on sexual harassment and sexual violence in the country are “exaggerated.” Omaima Kamel, on the Board for Women's Affairs, said on Wednesday that the Interior Ministry should “provide realistic numbers” on violence against women in the country.

Women must play a greater role in South Sudan's political life, from drawing up the country's constitution to translating it into law, a United Nations official has urged, as the African nation prepares to draft its first legal framework.

“No Justice? No Peace!” Never has this chant, which I have heard so often at anti-war rallies, felt so real to me as during the last few months observing the ongoing peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas. The talks began in October of last year in Oslo, Norway and have continued in Havana ever since. “No Justice? No Peace!” Never has this belief been more real to women peace activists in Colombia, who, despite the fact that not a single woman is at the negotiating table in Havana, are insisting on justice for achieving real and lasting peace in Colombia. Women peace activists in Colombia are putting their demands for peace into action through grassroots justice initiatives.

“I earn money and it makes me happy,” says Anjira Ashurova, a 46-year-old woman who lives in the small village of Shahraki Somoniyon in Sughd Province, northern Tajikistan. “I spend it on my basic needs and those of my children. I feel strong. I learned new skills and am practicing them in my daily life. I enjoy my work and the most important thing is that I enjoy working as a team. We support each other.”

Since the beginning of January 2012, an insurgent group has been fighting with the Mali government for the independence of northern Mali, an area known as Azawad. This group, formally known as National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and also referred to as Tuareg nationalists, joined forces with Islamist rebels. By using their combined forces, they gained control of northern Mali in the spring 2012.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of former Irish president Mary Robinson as the new Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region of Africa.