Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

On Jan. 10, Afghanistan's Council of Ministers, at its regular weekly meeting, decided that women's shelters needed to be brought under government control, reflecting a long-simmering discontent with women's shelters in Afghanistan. It's a discontent fanned by a media campaign spearheaded by right-wing broadcaster and ideologue, Nasto Naderi, who has pushed the idea that shelters are simply fronts for prostitution.

Soon after the launch of the US-led war in 2003, Iraq witnessed the emergence of a violent conflict and the deepening of splits along communal, religious, confessional, tribal and ethnic lines. The resulting chaos gave rise to growing insecurity and lawlessness and an upsurge in religious extremism. A backlash against women's rights and feminist activists was seen, opening old and new avenues for discrimination and violence against women.

To mark the international day of women, protesters in Sulaymanieh called for a special day for women's rights. Hundreds of women joined the usual daily crowd of protesters in the city square with many speaking from the podium about the problems Kurdish women face.

The United Nations today accuses world leaders of "turning a blind eye" to systematic rape in conflict countries as it calls for those responsible to be charged by the international criminal court (ICC) in the Hague.

Created by the FreeMiddleEast.com organization, the film compared the rights of women in Iran with those in South Africa in the days of Apartheid.

“This oppression of Iranian women is reminiscent of black apartheid in South Africa,” FreeMiddleEast says. “Let's stop Iran's Gender Apartheid together."

PBS NewsHour marks International Women's Health Day (March 8) with a two-part series from Guatemala focusing on two major struggles women face in that country. PBS NewsHour Senior Correspondent Ray Suarez examines a culture of violence against women now fueled by drug trafficking and the struggles to teach women about birth control.

The reports air Monday, March 7 and Tuesday, March 8, 2010 (check local listings).

The provisional approval was given by the Prime Minister's Office today.

Those intending to participate in the march are requested to gather at the Flea Market in Suva by 6pm – with the March expected to start at 7pm.

The march will proceed from the Suva Flea Market through the streets of Suva to government buildings.

Reclaim the Night March calls for an end to sexual violence against women and children.

One hundred years ago, when the world first commemorated International Women's Day, gender equality and women's empowerment were largely radical ideas. On this centenary, we celebrate the significant progress that has been achieved through determined advocacy, practical action and enlightened policy making. Yet, in too many countries and societies, women remain second-class citizens.

Humanity continues to witness human rights violations in the discrimination and violence against half of the world's population, writes Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund and under-secretary-general of the United Nations. (The opinions expressed are his own.)

UN Commission on the Status of Women 55 Power Point:

Women and the Human Right to Peace

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