In her early days as US secretary of state in 2009, Hillary Clinton went to the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo and was moved to tears when she heard first-hand stories about what rape had done, and was continuing to do to destroy women, families, communities.

Egyptians were glued to their televisions on Wednesday as the military handed down the country's new working constitution.

Some here would have preferred more time for emerging political factions to organize before elections that will be held by the fall, but most saw the announcement as a hopeful step toward democracy, equality and unparalleled freedoms in the wake of the January 25 Revolution.

She does not have a first name, nor a face. "No photos, please." Seated in a small dark room, her psychologist at her side, the "woman of Tuzla" will be her name. She is surrounded by cigarettes and medicines. Hers is a voice that tells the story of a war that ravaged Bosnia and Herzegovina a little over a decade ago.

Around 150 men employed in the different national and local government agencies in the province of Biliran, including male barangay officials, attended the first ever provincial forum dubbed as “Male Involvement in Eliminating Violence Against Women”.

Women have played a critical role in the pro-democracy protest movements that have swept across North Africa and the Middle East this year, and their rights and leadership potential must continue to be encouraged, the head of the new United Nations entity for gender equality and women's empowerment said today.

Security is gradually returning to parts of the war-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Security is coming back little by little. It is not perfect yet, but I must say that our freedom of movement is much better,” said Alphonsine Omoy, a resident of the town of Bunia in northeast DRC.

Despite decades of official attention, women in the military face pervasive sexism and surprisingly frequent sexual assault from within the ranks, noted speakers at the recent Gender Justice conference at West Point.

Forces loyal to President-elect Alassane Ouattara killed hundreds of civilians, raped more than 20 alleged supporters of his rival, Laurent Gbagbo, and burned at least 10 villages in Cote d'Ivoire's far western region, Human Rights Watch said today. Forces loyal to Gbagbo killed more than 100 presumed Ouattara supporters as Ouattara's forces advanced in their March campaign.

A panel of experts on the subject of women and security argued today at the Organization of American States (OAS) in favor of incorporating the gender perspective in the search for solutions to the problems of public security faced by countries of the hemisphere, and urged greater participation by women in the elaboration of public policies that support citizen security.

Men with guns are littering Ivory Coast with corpses while my female companions in P.A's Ribhouse in downtown Monrovia outline inspired, achievable solutions to ending that conflict. In the same gentle voices that cajoled Liberia's bloodstained dictator Charles Taylor into resigning his presidency (he is now facing war crimes charges at the Hague) they explain their plans.