As the only Afghan woman scheduled to address the plenary, I must spend a moment to focus on women's needs and priorities and the role women should play in efforts to stabilize and rebuild my country.
The London Conference on Afghanistan on January 28th on security, governance, and regional cooperation concluded with important decisions on how to resolve Afghanistan's conflict and governance challenges.
On UN Day Against Violence of Women, a coalition of women's organizations, including FOKUPERS, Organizacao da Mulher Timor, Rede Feto and the Student Solidarity Council, hold in the town of Dili, the First East Timorese Women's Conference to speak out about violence againt women. Micato and Sabina Fonseca from Organizacao da Mulher Timor were the main speakers giving information on both domestic and military violence.
After the overwhelming result in favour of East Timor independence, an unknown number of East Timorese were murdered, raped and tortured by the Indonesian forces. Approximately three-quarters of the East Timorese population was displaced. By the end of September 1999, over 250,000 East Timorese were living in refugee camps in West Timor. By the end of the year, UN agencies reported over 125,000 had returned to East Timor.
Although East Timor is now completely independent, the population is still struggling against the damage resulting from the Indonesian occupation. The Asia Pacific Coalition for East Timor jointly with Initiatives for International Dialogue launched the “Justice for East Timor” campaign aiming to bring justice and peace, to pursue people-to-people partnerships, and to consolidate the East Timorese civil society.
At the official opening of the National Council of Women's training for women candidates and campaign managers yesterday, Australian High Commissioner Patrick Cole, highlighted that advancing women's participation in the political sphere was one step towards investing in Solomon Islands' women's collective demonstration of their sense of responsibility, honesty and capacity to lead: "It is time for the women of the Solomon Islands to step
WOMEN in the Soloman Islands yesterday launched what is called the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women Peace and Security Policy Initiative.
This resolution, amongst others, calls for peace and security for women in all areas of life.
Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Seth Gukuna launched the document. Various women leaders spoke at the event.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is part of the Global Campaign for women's human rights. The first 16 Days Campaign was co-ordinated by the Centre for Women's Global Leadership Institute in June 1991.
40,000 Filipinos participated in a nationwide march organized by GABRIELA, BAYAN, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), and League of Filipino Students, to demonstrate the Filipino people's commitment to struggling for self-determination and freedom from increasingly dictatorial maneuvers by President Ramos' government.
