Asia

In a parliamentary government like Israel's, pretty much all executive power resides in the Prime Minister. The office of President carries certain responsibilities, such as signing treaties and appointing the head of the central bank, but it's largely a ceremonial post. Israel's head of state is basically there to make the country look good.

The young lovers met at a secluded spot next to a field of wheat at the edge of this sprawling suburb of New Delhi, where the timeless India of mustard fields and bullock carts abuts the frantically rising apartment towers of the budding middle class. They went seeking solitude, but instead found themselves at the violent cusp of old India and new.

Parliamentarians play a critical role in curbing violence against women, a UN official says.

Kiran Bhatia, a regional adviser on gender at the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) Asia and the Pacific regional office, said Saturday that parliamentarians could introduce new policies and support initiatives to protect women, as well as amend outdated laws that were discriminatory to women.

The Ministry of State for Women Affairs agreed on Thursday with the Ministries of Health, Labor and Interior and the United Nations Fund for Population, as well as civil society organizations to implement the qualitative social program to combat violence against women.

The demonstrations held here on March 20 marked the third time in four weeks that protesters gathered to demand an end to the "confessional" or sectarian system that divides Lebanon's government and society along religious lines.

But this time the focus of protesters' anger broadened to include the country's system of family laws that are governed by religious authorities and often discriminate against women.

The first time Mumal Barupal went to a meeting of her village council, she sat on the floor, off to the side of the benches occupied by the other members, in purdah – her face completely veiled by the end of her sari.

Then she ran the meeting: She was the newly elected mayor.

ERBIL-Hewlêr, Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — Upon first glance, much has improved for women in northern Iraq: almost a third of parliamentarians in Iraqi Kurdistan are female. But the number of honour killings and self-immolations is still high. Mona Naggar reports from Erbil.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) women's desk here has noted a dwindling number of cases of violation against women with the passage of stricter laws that protect women and punish the offenders.

PO3 Edna Ulep, head of the Laoag City PNP Women's Desk, said only three cases of domestic violence were filed in court since January this year noting that the low case turnout was due to harsher laws that protect women's rights.

UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) Alain Le Roy praised Indonesian peacekeepers` performance and urged Indonesia to involve police women in future UN missions.

Speaking to ANTARA News at the Jakarta-based UN Information Center on Thursday, he said women peacekeepers` presence was needed because there were always women among displaced people in the UN mission areas.

The Burmese military leadership should adopt measures to end abuses and ensure that those responsible are held accountable, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the judge advocate general of the Burmese Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Yar Pyae.