Asia

Today, like every other Friday since February, Iraqi citizens will gather in Tahrir Square – in Baghdad, not Cairo – to protest corruption, poor government, lack of basic services, high unemployment rates and constraints on freedom of expression.

The relationship between gender equality and economic advancement is continuing to strengthen, and can greatly affect the productivity of companies and countries alike. The issue was raised yesterday at the World Bank's press conference in anticipation of the release of its World Development Report on Gender and Equality and Development.

After more than 10 years since it was passed, the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Women, Peace and Security) is gaining more attention with the opportunity to develop and present a Regional Action Plan at the 2012 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

Regional women's rights experts say there's not enough female involvement in conflict resolution, and peacekeeping.
At its inaugural meeting in Thailand this week, the Regional Advisory Group on Women, Peace and Security discussed how to implement a UN security council resolution from 2000, calling for action to address the impact of war on women and girls.

The ten year long armed conflict started by the Communist Party of Nepal -Maoist (CPN Maoist), with the objective of establishing a Republican state, claimed more than 13,000 lives and forced millions to live as internally displaced.

Besides being a fundamental violation of human rights, violence against women represents one of the most critical public health challenges and is a major factor contributing to poverty

Peace is not made with friends, it is made with enemies. Peace deals are then about finding a minimum common ground and making compromises: It comes at a cost, but the price is not necessarily equal for everybody. Sari Kouvo, AAN Senior Analyst, discusses some of the key themes that came up in her meetings with Afghan women about reconciliation and what is needed to make peace in Afghanistan.

On 5 December, on the tenth anniversary of the Bonn Agreement, Germany will host the Bonn II conference. There are exaggerated views in the Afghan public about what the conference is trying to achieve, that – with the ‘talks about talks' continuing - it might even embark on setting up a new composition of power in Kabul.

Pacific leaders have made a commitment to increasing the numbers of woman parliamentarians, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said yesterday. Many Pacific countries do not have any female MPs, let alone women in positions of leadership. Many of the countries are with Middle East countries at the bottom of tables compiled by the Inter Parliamentary Union.

Recognising the need to address issues affecting women and girls in Guadalcanal Province the Women Development Division (WDD) of the province in collaboration with the Women Development Division of the Ministry of Women, youth and children Affairs (MWYCFA) strive to ensure that Guadalcanal province has it own policy.