The high popularity levels of their predecessors smoothed the way for Cristina Fernández and Dilma Rousseff to become presidents of Argentina and Brazil. But they also share the challenge of governing the two biggest countries in South America's Mercosur trade bloc, in the shadow of the leaders who went before them.

Ms. Sarvnaz Chitsaz, NCRI Women's Committee Chair, described the barbaric execution of Ms. Zahra Bahrami as an indication of the weakness of a regime that is becoming increasingly loathed by the Iranian people, especially women, who are resolute in bringing down this misogynist religious fascism ruling Iran and in replacing it with a democracy and popular rule.

Only when rape in armed conflict becomes a liability for armed groups rather than a tool in the struggle for power – a war crime that will bring inevitable punishment – will progress be made in eliminating the scourge, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

The United Nations has launched a probe into claims of sexual assault in the US military as well as mistreatment of women kept in detention. UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Rashida Manjoo, arrived in Washington Sunday on an official fact-finding mission. She met with officials from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Last week over 50 UN Women staff based in Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Samoa came together for the first time as part of the new UN entity, UN Women.

Private security personnel employed at a gold mine in Papua New Guinea have been implicated in alleged gang rapes and other violent abuses, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The Porgera mine has produced billions of dollars of gold in its twenty years of operation, and is operated and 95 percent owned by Barrick Gold, a Canadian company that is the world's largest gold producer.

Gender-based violence in the occupied Palestinian territory remains at epidemic levels, according to UN agencies, local NGOs and women, while victims lack legal recourse and often face a family backlash for reporting crimes.

"Are the politicians of Kurdistan ready to bring the faces of femininity to the world?"

"First, we need to develop a culture of respect and admiration for the role women play in our society: in our families, in our schools and in professional fields."-Nechirvan Barzani

Islamabad, Jan 25 (IANS) Vigilante justice is haunting women in Pakistan, a leading daily said Tuesday adding: 'Aside from violating human rights, these are blatantly extrajudicial actions that cannot go unpunished in any society that claims to value law and order.'