London-based Kashmiri novelist Mirza Waheed has lauded the women of Kashmir for their resilience during the 20-year-long conflict, saying: “They are the bravest in the world.”

An International Conference on Woman's Role in Building of Peace was opened in Erbil, the capital of north Iraq's Kurdistan Region, with a large official and civilian presence on international, regional and local participation.

The conference was inaugurated by Kurdistan Region's Parliament Speaker, Kamal Kirkuki, who delivered a speech, welcoming the presence of delegates from different countries of the world.

*****FINAL APPLICATION DEADLINE – 25th March, 2011*****

12th INCORE International Summer School, hosted at the Magee Campus of the University of Ulster and will run from 13th - 17th June.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women last afternoon met with non-governmental organizations to discuss the situation of the rights of women in Bangladesh, Belarus and Sri Lanka. As part of its work, the Committee invites non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions to provide information and documentation relevant to the Committee's activities.

Farzana Wahidy loves to capture women on film. Armed with her camera, this 26-year-old photojournalist from Afghanistan finds inspiration in chronicling the lives of her country's vastly beleaguered but "hugely intriguing, wonderfully colorful and always stirring" women.

She is the first female Afghan photographer working for international wires such as Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press.

I held my hand to reach my pen on to write an article about women's lives in Kurdistan, from a woman's perspective. To begin is undoubtedly the most difficult part in the writing task, even more so when the subject is a complex issue concerning women's lives and aspirations in Kurdistan and Iraq. What should be the introduction and how should the task of selecting openings proceed?

Twenty-first-century war is different than earlier conflicts, and the faces in uniform are different too. More women serve in the armed forces and are promoted to ranked positions than ever before in military history.

On Tuesday, January 18, 2011, four representatives from India and Pakistan came together to present the results of a courageous dialogue that cut across political and religious boundaries.

“We Are Super Women!” twelve young women from Israel, Palestine, India, and Pakistan shouted in unison while waving their paddles in the air.

Attached please find the Center for Women's Global Leadership's Winter 2011 e-newsletter, featuring:

• CWGL Participates in the United
• Nations Universal Periodic Review
• 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence a Success!
• UN Women Becomes Operational
• Preparations Begin for the 55th Session of the CSW
• Meeting Summary
• Resources
• Upcoming Events