Asia

The lack of women's economic and political participation, and lack of women's education, kept Arab countries from developing properly, said US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer on the sidelines of the Women's Forum in Deauville, France. Then came the Arab Spring and “women were shoulder-to-shoulder with men in the revolutions.”

It was stressed that representation of women in Parliament and the Senate must be between 33 and 50 per cent.

This was stated by speakers at a two-day long annual conference on the International Day of Rural Women, organised by Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (Poda).

The attack, in September 2011, left the 50-year-old mother of three with no right eye, 50 percent vision in the left and many disfiguring scars. With no income, she has had to rely on the Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity (CASC) for the seven operations she has undergone. She faces a precarious future.

Sok Samith told of her Vietnamese friend impregnated by rape, forced to work in shackles and then sent to prison where she gave birth before being executed. And Kim Thavy, now a slight 80-year-old, outlived more than 600 women held in a detention center who were taken away in large groups by guards “to be played with.” None ever returned, but Ms.

“This is what I live for…,” Koofi writes. “…And what I know I will die for.”

Afridi's death, as one of the very few Pashtun women leaders in any field, leaves a large gap and begs the question of why there aren't more like her. It is certainly not because Pashtun women are incapable of serving as leaders. They have historically repudiated this assumption when given the opportunity - or when they have created opportunities for themselves.

Malala, 14, who suffered gunshot injuries to her head in the attack in Swat Oct. 9 is recovering in hospital in Rawalpindi to which she was moved. She remains in serous condition.

“There will be no significant rehabilitation or reconstruction of war-torn societies without women,” the Mindanao Commission on Women (MCW) and the Mothers for Peace Movement said in a statement hailing the recent signing of the “Framework Agreement.” The agreement between the government and the MILF paves the way for the creation of the “Bangsamoro” that will take the place of the Autonomous Region in Musli

The event was organised by Individualland, a research-based consultancy and advocacy group, supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

The session was presided over by retired additional inspector general of police Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui.

The Fata Civil Secretariat earmarked Rs60 million in the ADP for tribal areas for current fiscal year under the head of support to gender development, marginalised community and juvenile protection.