General Women, Peace and Security

Sarah Ajith James arrived in Washington last Sunday night, just five months after her country -- South Sudan -- seceded from Sudan and became the world' s 193rd nation, knowing that the road to equality would be long and difficult for women in the world's newest country.

Peru's government has reopened an investigation into a controversial birth control programme of sterilisation. The announcement has brought fresh hope to the many women and men who feel their rights were violated.

"You give birth like pigs or hamsters!"

Aurelia Paccohuanca remembers those words uttered by nurses when she opposed what was being presented as a solution to Peru's extreme poverty.

2011 was not so good despite CSOs input into efforts to ensure that the rights of women were upheld, that is the vedict of women activists. Several women's right advocates have said they expect to see a change in the way government responds to women's rights issues next year, 2012.

UN Women Executive Director Bachelet arrives at the headquarters for the Children Hope project, also known as "Crianca Esperanca," in Rio de Janeiro on December 16, 2011

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. (Applause.) Oh, my goodness. Well, if it ever were a secret. (Laughter.)

Thank you, Marc, and thanks to all of you for being part of this evening to support such an extraordinary, important organization that is relied upon certainly across the world, and that includes the State Department.

President Barack Obama released a U.S. plan on Monday to promote the role of women in preventing conflict and keeping the peace, designed to get more women seated at negotiating tables around the world.

Two days after ending the war in Iraq, President Obama on Monday issued a “national action plan” aimed at giving women a bigger role in resolving conflicts around the world.

Iranian authorities allegedly lifted the death sentence imposed on Kurdish woman activist Zeyneb Jalalian.

Jalalian's lawyer Dr. Mihemed Serif stated that Iranian authorities had after a long-standing silence turned the death sentence into imprisonment.

Egyptian women protesters “are being attacked, stripped and beaten in the streets” by security forces, a “disgrace” that dishonors the country, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday.

The top U.S. diplomat said Egypt's leaders, in the military and in its political parties, are excluding women from decision- making as the country makes its transition to civilian-led rule.

Gender activists have proposed a guide to monitor performance of governments in eliminating sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the Great Lakes Region to ensure commitment towards addressing the vice.