General Women, Peace and Security

As the UN prepares to celebrate the centennial International Women's Day, its new agency, UN Women is planning to make important impacts on the way in which both member states and the UN itself help women worldwide.

The UN refugee agency says parts of Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, resemble a war zone. On Thursday, security forces shot dead at least six women marching in support of Alassane Ouattara, witnesses say. Mr Ouattara is recognised by the UN as the winner of November's presidential election, but Laurent Gbagbo has refused to concede power.

The endless battle against extortion, drug smuggling, sexual abuse and gender based violence - crimes that have exposed the activities of our security forces along the borders of Liberia are nothing short of a stinging state of affairs. The more we think the situation has been minimized, the more it hits the roof.

Programs marking this year's International Women's Day celebration with the Global theme: ‘'Equal Access to Education, Training, Science and Technology and the Pathway to Decent Work of Women,” are expected to be graced in Liberia and the World over.

UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet today announced a new initiative to boost women's roles in conflict resolution.

Among the most prevalent Western stereotypes about Muslim countries are those concerning Muslim women: doe-eyed, veiled, and submissive, exotically silent, gauzy inhabitants of imagined harems, closeted behind rigid gender roles. So where were these women in Tunisia and Egypt?

Nepal launches National Action Plan on Women Peace & Security internationally

Nepal launched its National Action Plan (NAP) internationally on the Implementation of the United Nation Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1325 and 1820, at a special side event on the margin of the 55th Commission on the Status of Women in New York on Wednesday.

Luminaries from the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, the media, music and film are joining the United Nations today as it celebrates the birth of a powerful new agency giving voice to women and girls worldwide.

1325. It's a combination of digits that might not mean much to the majority of the world's population, but these four numbers are a crucial tool in the global struggle for gender equality.

Introduced in October 2000, 1325 is the first United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at fighting gender-based violence in conflict, and increasing the number of women at the decision making tables of peace and security.

Iranian lawmaker Fatemeh Ajorlu has criticized the United Nations for the approach it has adopted toward the plight of women and children in the occupied territories.

Ajorlu made the remarks on Saturday at the 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women which opened at United Nations Headquarters in New York on February 22 and runs until March 4.