"The 1325 Key to Peace" is a play written by Shirley Farlinger. Signed ten-years ago, the UN Security Council resolution 1325 mandates women's participation at tables of peace and war decision-making at all levels.

"The agenda for women's rights and empowerment in each country must be supported by the political leadership," says Norah Matovu-Winyi, Executive Director, African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET).

So Mubarak is gone and certainly it is good to finally be rid of someone who has consistently abused the human rights of the citizens of Egypt. But it is not at all clear yet whether those that take his place will be better, particularly for women. That is something that we still don't know, so it feels premature to truly celebrate.

Why is it that although rule of law and police reform are often stated to be priorities during peace processes, women still face rising insecurity in ‘post'-conflict societies? Afghanistan offers some lessons on the triangular nexus between police, security and women in peace processes.

In June 2011, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on transnational corporations and other business enterprises (SRSG), Prof. John Ruggie, will present his final report to the UN Human Rights Council. This report will include Guiding Principles for the operationalization of the “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework as well as options for UN mechanisms on business and human rights to follow the SRSG.

Sri Lanka has very commendable human development indicators for women, which include high literacy rates and exceptional educational achievements. However, despite almost 70 years of female franchise and the election of the world's first woman Prime Minister, the country lags far behind most of the developing world with regard to women's representation in political institutions at local, provincial and national level.

Dear Madam Michelle Bachelet,
Congratulations Madam Michelle, you are now our UN Under –Secretary-General

That the barriers which prevent the activation of women's participation are many and complex and vary from one country to another and according to the circumstances social, cultural, political and economic.

Speaker: Sarai Aharoni, Frankel Institute for Judaic Studies, University of Michigan

Date and Time: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Event Location: Humanities Gateway, Room 1002

Contact for Further Information: showler@uci.edu

The Critical Theory Emphasis, the Humanities Collective, and Program in Culture and Theory present

The secession of Southern Sudan following the referendum on self-determination is imminent. Despite the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) prescribing an interim period with a programme of legal reform to address long-standing grievances, no real, conscientious efforts were made to make unity realistic for southerners.