General Women, Peace and Security

Statistics shows the status of women is better than last couple of years in Pakistan. The situation could more satisfactory if the policies formulated by the parliamentarians for women folk in the past. This was stated by the speakers at a workshop organized by the Individual-land in collaboration with USAID and Aurat Foundation titled "Gender equality and equity" here at local hotel on Saturday.

We all know that women and girls living in areas of armed conflict and disaster suffer the worst consequences of crises due to their heightened vulnerability. We also know dozens of initiatives, conferences, reports, and guidelines have been elaborated with the aim of mainstreaming gender-sensitive approaches in responses to humanitarian crises.

On July 22, 2011 the newly appointed Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, a Harvard-trained professor of economics, announced his 49-member cabinet. There are only two women in it: one minister and one vice minister. Yet, Somali women and children are the primary victims of ongoing conflict and deepening drought and famine in Somalia.

Skittish at first, then wide-eyed with delight, the women and girls entered the sea, smiling, splashing and then joining hands, getting knocked over by the waves, throwing back their heads and ultimately laughing with joy.

Most had never seen the sea before.

Reports emerged last week from Kachin and Shan States that rape is still being used as a tactic by the Burmese army to demoralise and terrorise ethnic communities

In the corner of an up-market Chiang Mai coffee shop, three women, spanning three generations, sort through maps, photographs and reports detailing the injuries, rapes and murders of ethnic women recently brutalised by Burmese army soldiers.

Next Friday, the Rwanda Women Parliamentary Forum (FFRP) will celebrate 15 years of existence and, if the news conference members held is anything to go by, they are pretty pleased with themselves.

They took the opportunity to highlight their achievements in championing women rights and gender equality, and truth be told, there are some awesome achievements.

Is justice necessary for the empowerment of women? Does it enhance their position in society? The report, Progress of World's Women (2011-2012): In Pursuit of Justice produced by the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) released this week, suggests that the answer is a yes.

On 9 July 2011 the world witnessed the birth of a nation — South Sudan, Africa's 54th country. In an interview with UN Women, South Sudan's Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare Agnes Lasuba weighs in on the country's independence and what it means for women.

What does South Sudan's independence mean for women?

The UN General Assembly in September may prove to be an important step on the road to a Palestinian state. Given the US position, there is now no chance of Security Council recognition of Palestine. However, recognition by General Assembly members – while changing nothing on the ground – could provide critical support for Palestinian claims to statehood.