Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Libyan Grand Mufti Ghariani issued a new statement denouncing the agreed conclusions of the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) on ending discrimination and violence against women. The report of which has not even been released!

Perhaps the Mufti was anticipating the event and denounced the document that the United Nations negotiations were still ongoing and which was to be announced on 16 March 2013.

After the ten year mark, women in Iraq are left to fend for themselves.

That women and girls are singled out during armed conflicts is well documented -- what is less well known is that once hostilities cease the undeclared war on women can continue for years on end.

Even though officially the fighting has ended, the proliferation of weapons, a culture of violence and the objectification of women continue to wreak havoc.

Last week, Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood issued a strongly-worded statement unabashedly rejecting the draft UN declaration calling for an end to all forms of violence against women. It claims that the declaration contravenes Egypt's "cultural specificity" and would lead to "the complete disintegration of society" if ratified. Needless to say, the statement has fuelled the anger of Egyptians, especially women.

Dear 
Delegate,


As you know, on the 8th of March, the whole world was celebrating the International Women's Day (IWD). On this occasion, WILPF attended a side event of the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) on how to involve youth in the struggle to end violence against women and girls.

At the International Women's Day commemoration at the United Nations in New York today, UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet made a rallying call to the international community to move forward on gender equality and women's rights.

Gender-based violence tends to increase after natural disasters, researchers have found. Haiti, unfortunately, is no exception.

We must bring the perpetrators to justice and end the culture of impunity

I am writing from the beautiful city of Granada, Nicaragua. I am participating in the prestigious International Poetry Festival of Nicaragua, which honours our great national treasure Ernesto Cardenal, an inspiring figure who has contributed much to the fields of art, literature, theology and politics. He has helped to shape Nicaragua's history.

Yaneth Llerena, 40, leads a team of 50 community workers at an emergency women's centre in the poor district of Villa el Salvador