A two day regional conference on the theme "Protection of human rights and freedoms of members of the armed forces” is being held in Sarajevo. Conference is organized by the Office of the Parliamentary Military Commissioner of Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina and with the support of the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Several months before the revolution, I wrote a piece for CNN.com on the sexual harassment of women in Cairo.

News of the chilling attack on CBS reporter Lara Logan, as well as other sexual assaults against women during Egypt's uprising, show that attacks against women have not gone away.

The Mano River Union Women Peace Network (Liberia Chapter) in collaboration with other women Organizations in Liberia have observed a day of worship, fasting and peace match this week as they prepare themselves for a final peace dialogue between President Laurent Gbagbo and Alhasane Ouattara in troubled Ivory Coast.

Seven years after the arrest and killing of Maina Sunuwar, the government of Nepal should take immediate steps, with the full cooperation of the Nepal Army, to ensure that criminal proceedings move forward, Advocacy Forum (AF), Amnesty International (AI), Human Rights Watch, and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said today.

The Asean Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) met for the first time today seeking to promote the well-being, development, empowerment and participation of women and children in the Asean Community building process.

The commission also promotes public awareness and education of their rights.

IRIN's series of revised briefings takes a look at the handling of the crisis by the UN, regional bodies the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), western governments, and the European Union (EU), while also looking at the economic, human rights and humanitarian consequences of the breakdown.

The United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) today announced US$10 million in grants to 13 initiatives in 18 countries. The grants complete the UN Trust Fund's 14th grant-making cycle of 2009, delivering a total of US$20.5 million for 26 projects in 33 countries and territories. Belarus, the Marshall Islands and Sri Lanka are first-time grant recipients of the UN Trust Fund.

The road to safety does not always guarantee deliverance, especially not for many women refugees fleeing conflict in the Horn of Africa.

Increasing cases of sexual abuse against women refugees en route to sanctuary in Egypt and Israel have raised concerns about providing victims with proper mental health care to survive not only the psychological remnants of rape, but also the resultant stigma.

Stressing that sexual violence thrives on silence and impunity, UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon, yesterday in Addis Ababa called on world leaders to speak out against the horrors of rape and sexual violence that are usually termed “unspeakable”.

The head of the new United Nations agency promoting women's rights and full participation in global affairs laid out a 100-day action plan today, embracing a full spectrum of issues from supporting national partners to promoting coherence within the UN system.