Amina Ahmed Barre, 29, a mother of two, has lived in refugee camps most of her life. She is one of nearly 14,000 Somali refugees in Djibouti. Barre fled Somalia with her parents in 1991 when civil war broke out; she was only eight years old.

Barre's home today is a makeshift shelter at the Ali Addeh refugee camp, 130km south of Djibouti-Ville, the capital. She spoke to IRIN about her experiences and hopes for the future:

Another woman has joined the presidential race in Kazakhstan, becoming the third female candidate to stand against the country's long-serving leader Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Meyramkul Kozhagulova, 50, registered for the April 3 polls on Friday. Her other female rivals are Maya Karamayeva, 54, and Guldana Tokbayeva, 57, the Central Election Commission said.

Many aspects of normal civilian life are compromised in Kashmir, as in any area of conflict. But in Kashmir, there is an overlay of this reality with another one; of women being treated with insensitivity, and in extreme cases- violence.There is an inherited tapestry of Kashmir's societal norms which are discriminatory, that are then exacerbated by the over two decades of conflict.

The Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction on Thursday formally launched a set of national action plans in line with the United Nations Security Council's resolution on women, peace and security.

The plans, endorsed by the government on February 1, make Nepal the first country in South Asia to adopt a national policy in line with UN resolutions.

INTERNATIONAL: Women's Human Rights Defenders - A Clear Target Of Violence And Repression

By Analía Penchaszadeh

Afghan women's leaders announced at a press conference this morning in Kabul that they will fight the proposed regulation and any attempt of the government to take over battered women and girls shelters, currently run by non-profit women's organizations.

With a view to achieving sustainable peace and establishing a just society by ensuring participation of women at all stages of peace building, the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction (MoPR) on Thursday launched the National Action Plan (NAP) on UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and 1820.

Jennifer Buffett talks to a social worker in Liberia who is working to change society's perception of girls.

It is a simple idea, and a bold one: Women and girls have the power to lead their countries away from war to peace and prosperity. But only if we stop the violence that is holding them back.

The South Sudanese media has been urged to promote gender issues in its reporting.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) made the call during the closing of a workshop for journalists in Juba today.

The training on conflict sensitive reporting benefitted 18 journalists from different media houses in Central Equatoria State.

The secretary general of the ruling MPLA party, Julião Mateus Paulo "Dino Matross, asserted on Saturday here that the party guarantees the effective emancipation and promotion of women, and also assures equality of rights and opportunities in education, employment, as well as participation in the political, economic, social and cultural sectors.