The European Institute for Gender Equality aims to promote gender equality, to fight discrimination based on sex and to raise awareness of EU citizens of gender issues. With the "Women Inspiring Europe" Calendar, EIGE aims to give visibility and pay homage to some of Europe's most remarkable women, through highlighting their achievements and success stories.

Increasing urbanisation, level of education and income tend to reduce family size, thus large families in East Africa tend to be rural and poor; among all demographics, men consistently want more children than women do.

Sadly, they want them so they can perform the role of unpaid child labour.

Even more shocking, significant percentages of both men and women support wife-beating.

In his new book, “On the State of Egypt” (Vintage; paperback, $15), popular Egyptian author Alaa Al Aswany doesn't mince words when going after Islamic extremists for their treatment of women. In an essay titled, “Why Are Religious Fanatics Obsessed with Women's Bodies?” Aswany decries an incident in Somalia in which extremists arrested a woman and whipped her in public for wearing a bra.

Mother's Day was originally meant to be a day for peace. In the wake of the Civil War, abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe was tired of fighting, tired of blood and tired of guns.

Dr. Mehmet Hulki UZ, the UNFPA representative in Tehran, says Iran has succeeded to reduce maternal mortality by 80 percent within 18 years.

In an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times, Hulki UZ also says, “Now in Iran 97 percent of deliveries are being achieved safely.”

The interview comes as the Iranian Health Ministry marks the International Day of the Midwife which falls on 5 May.

By coincidence, as the news was breaking last week about the death of Osama bin Laden, I was reading a book that described in vivid detail the violence, the fear and the hunger women and girls in Kabul, Afghanistan, endured during the time when the Taliban was in complete control.

CALL FOR ARTICLES
Women in Action (WiA) Magazine on theme of
Women, Peace and Security: 10 Years After 1325

It is a great honour and privilege for me to stand before such distinguished women leaders of the world and receive this award. Again I thank you very much, and I am humbled.

I receive this award not for myself. But I am receiving this award for your recognition of the United Nations' work. And again I receive this award with a humble mind that you are asking me to do more for gender equality and gender empowerment.

The National Commission on the Status of Women and members of Insani Huqooq Ittehad, including PODA, Mehergargh, Aurat Foundation, Rozan, Sungi, Bedari, Ethno Media, Pattan and SPO convened an emergency meeting to express deep shock and disappointment at the verdict given by the superior court in the Mukhtara Mai gang rape case today.