General Women, Peace and Security

Monday, June 11th, marked the official launch of the Women in Public Service Project (WPSP), a program created by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that aims to mentor emerging female leaders from all over the world in public policy and social justice.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) is creating more visibility and support for women's involvement in peace and security by organizing two events that focus on sharing knowledge, expertise and best practices relevant to gender and human rights issues in peace negotiations and mediation and in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions.

The National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security issued by President Barack Obama late last year is unquestionably a significant and necessary step towards increasing women's participation in conflict prevention and peace negotiations.

When the UK and USA entered Afghanistan in 2001 they made a promise to improve the lives of Afghan women. In the last ten years there has been some progress in terms of education, the right to work and the freedom of movement. However much remains to be done as Afghan women continue to face gendered discrimination and violence.

I first learned of Charlotte Bunch during a screening of Passionate Politics: The Life and Work of Charlotte Bunch in NYC earlier this year at the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission. The inspiring film highlights much of her life's work to promote gay rights and women's rights in the international human rights arena as an organizer, activist and out lesbian.

The "Must Haves" for Rio+20

To ensure women's voices are heard, Bachelet outlined some of the core themes on the UN Women agenda to be raised at the Rio+20 Summit.

Isabelle de Grave interviews MICHELE BACHELET, Executive Director of UN Women

Unlocking women's energies and allowing them to become drivers of change could fuel the motor of sustainable development.

"Men want power, women want peace."

Former British Ambassador to Sudan, Alan Goutly quoted this statement from a Sudanese woman in an answer to my question: How important is it to include women in the peace process between Sudan and South Sudan? Such a simple statement sums up what international leaders are now recognizing as an essential element to the peace process: to include women's voices.

Goodwill Ambassador for Women's Empowerment, Syeda Fiza Batool Gilani Thursday reiterated to continue struggle for the socio-economic empowerment of women,who are 52 percent of the country's population in 5th meeting of the Inter-Provincial Ministerial Group for Women Development. The meeting of the Inter-Provincial Ministerial Group for Women Development with Syeda Fiza Batool Gilani in the chair was held here today.

Women for Women International (WfWI) has announced it is joining the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict.