Asia

Sri Lanka Foreign Minister labeled the human rights groups as "patronizing, condescending and almost colonial", addressing the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

Minister GL Peiris made this claim denying the authenticity of photographs released by the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) showing a massacre of Tamils during the country's civil war.

The Sri Lankan government plans to implement self-employment projects for the war widows in the North and East Provinces.

Deputy Child Development and Women's Affairs Minister M.L.A.M. Hisbullah has said the projects would be launched with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNDFW).

In a recent report, women in Afghanistan have voiced their discontent on their marginalisation in the ongoing “peace process”. The Talibanisation of Sharia law and the ongoing war has proved to be detrimental for their free movement and hence, their overall development.

Khatool Muhammadzai loves martial arts, underwent commando training in pre-Taliban Afghanistan, and has logged 500 official jumps as the only female paratrooper in the country's post-Taliban military.

But the middle-aged general, Afghanistan's highest-ranking woman officer, wants to be known as a peacemaker.

Marzia is a police officer in uniform, still a rare sight in Afghan society, even though the female component of the Afghan security forces is important in a Muslim society. If apartments need to be searched, then Marzia's job is to check the women's bedrooms and closets.

Marzia says there should be more Afghan women with jobs, and believes that the political climate is auspicious.

Tens of thousands of war widows cannot be reached due to a lack of funds, say officials, despite efforts to help them adjust to life after the conflict in northern and eastern Sri Lanka.

There are 89,000 widows in the north and east, Mohamed Hizbullah, the deputy minister for child development and women's affairs, told IRIN.

ESCWA opened today its scheduled activities of the Tenth Anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 concerning women, security and peace. For the occasion, the Regional Commission launched its study entitled "The Means to Strengthen the Role of Women in Conflict Resolution and Peace Building", with an emphasis on case studies from Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq.

A Vietnamese representative to the United Nations has affirmed Vietnam's support to UN Resolution 1325, which aims to promote women's role and rights in relation to peace and security, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

Can art change the world? The people at Freedom to Create believe it can. Since 2008, Freedom to Create has awarded its annual prize to honor "the power of art to fight oppression, break down stereotypes and build trust in societies where the social fabric has been ripped apart by conflict, violence and misunderstanding."

Women from Indonesia's conflict zones called upon the government to finalize a national action plan to end the violence, sexual abuse and suppression suffered by many women in times of conflict.

The drafting of the national action plan has entered its 10th year, after the release of the plan's basis, United Nations Resolution 1325, in 2000.