Northern Mali is on the brink of a major humanitarian disaster and aid agencies must be allowed immediate access to avoid further civilian deaths, Amnesty International said today.

The three northern towns of Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu have experienced days of looting, abductions and chaos since they were occupied by armed groups late last week.

Honduras is on the verge of becoming the only country in the world that criminalises the emergency contraceptive pill due to a Supreme Court conclusion that a ban is not unconstitutional. Women and girls who have been raped or whose contraceptive method has failed will no longer have the option of emergency contraception. The fundamental rights of Honduran women and girls are in jeopardy.

Binalakshmi Nepram works with Manipuri women who face a dual violence – when their men are killed and in the deprivation that follows.

Interview by Aparna V. Singh

A recently-launched website entitled Optional Protocol to CEDAW was designed to provide a central hub of information regarding the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Women advocates in Papua New Guinea (PNG) have worked tirelessly over the years to increase gender equality in the island nation. This year, they reached a high point as parliament voted to amend the constitution and create an additional 22 reserved seats for women, although the effort has yet to be passed into law.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has written to the Colombian embassy requesting that the Colombian government provide urgent protection to recently-released political prisoner Liliany Obando. The letter also requests that the government act to end false accusations against her. The letter from David Begg, the General Secretary of the ICTU, says “your government claims to be improving human rights.

Audio available at the source.

Israel is one of the most militarised nations on earth.

The long-running conflict with the Palestinians means a large army, conscription for men and women, and a highly visible proliferation of military weapons and personnel everywhere.

With a hope for peace in post-war Sri Lanka, the N-Peace Network in partnership with Search for Common Ground in Sri Lanka has initiated an advocacy campaign on Women, Peace & Security, in line with this year's theme of International Women's Day (IWD) ‘Connecting girls, Inspiring Futures'.