General Women, Peace and Security

The adoption of the United Nation Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace and security by international community, marked one of the greatest achievements at the dawn of the new millennium.

Through the resolution, the international community recognised the important role women played in the maintenance of peace and security nationally and globally.

A deranged soldier, armed with gun and knife, walks off the base into the nearby small town, and massacres 16 people, including 9 children.

No, it's not the plot of the latest Schwarzenegger movie.

It's real life in Afghanistan.

Or Oslo, Norway.

Or Homs, Syria.

Or the local high school or university in Anytown, USA.

It is more dangerous to be a civilian woman than a soldier in many conflict zones today.

That was the harrowing truth exposed by former UN Force Commander Major General Patrick Cammaert at the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women held recently at the UN in New York.

In conflict situations today, UN Women estimates that 90 per cent of casualties are civilians. The majority are women and children.

Arbitrary arrests. Administrative detention. Abductions. Enforced disappearances. Torture. Rape. Beatings. Interrogation centers. Detention camps. Secret prisons. Unprovoked attacks on peaceful protesters. No right of free movement. Censorship of Information. Discrimination. Intimidation. Humiliation. Military-enforced curfew. Property destruction. Mass graves. Gang rapes. Ethnic cleansing. Occupation.

A Pakistani military tribunal has convicted two United Nations peacekeepers for raping a 14-year-old Haitian boy.

U.N. spokeswoman Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg said judges from a Pakistani military tribunal came to Haiti to hold the trial that resulted in the conviction last week of the peacekeepers from pakistan. They were found guilty in the rape of the boy in the northern city of Gonaives on January 20.

A Pakistani military tribunal has convicted two United Nations peacekeepers for raping a 14-year-old Haitian boy.

U.N. spokeswoman Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg said judges from a Pakistani military tribunal came to Haiti to hold the trial that resulted in the conviction last week of the peacekeepers from pakistan. They were found guilty in the rape of the boy in the northern city of Gonaives on January 20.

With the passage of four decrees that regulate Law 1257 against gender violence, Colombia has made significant progress in the prevention and punishment of violence and discrimination against women.

The United Nations (UN) has been slammed for its silence on Zimbabwe and the campaign of politically motivated rape, unleashed by Robert Mugabe's supporters during election periods.

On March 8, Palestinian women rallied in Gaza and Ramallah to mark International Women's Day. Activities were held in various cities, villages and refugee camps. Women in Palestine are united by a shared struggle, untold hardship, and also a legendary ability to withstand, survive and flourish under the harshest of circumstances.

When the United Nations concluded a two-week session highlighting the plight of rural women last week, the meetings singled out both the achievements and shortcomings of the ongoing relentless battle for gender equality in a world still dominated - and overwhelmingly ruled - by men.