November 22nd of last year marked the beginning of the ongoing International Criminal Court trial of former Congolese vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba. Bemba, who was a major force in Congolese politics as well as a presidential hopeful, is being held responsible for war crimes committed by his private militia, the Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC), in Congo's northern neighbor the Central African Republic.

An "incoherent" clause in the draft bill that will determine the structure, mission and functions of the National Women Council (NWC), on Tuesday put a halt to the debate as most legislators in the lower chamber requested that it first corrected before further deliberations.

The reported arrests of ten Congolese soldiers accused of looting stores and raping at least a dozen women in the Fizi District earlier in January is not enough to reassure local civil society.

The rapes and destruction of property were carried out on New Year's Day by soldiers detailed to the area as part of the peacekeeping Operation Amani Leo, jointly run by the U.N. mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, and the Congolese Armed Forces.

Tuzla, 4 November 2010 - In cooperation with the Tuzla University, BiH law enforcement agencies and civic society, the EU Police Mission commemorated the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace and security by organizing a panel discussion on the role and impact of women's participation in law enforcement agencies, in Tuzla yesterday.

Uganda appeared before the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (the Committee) on 13 October 2010 to present its combined 4th to 7th periodic report. The delegation of Uganda was headed by Ms Rukia Isanga Nakadama, Minister of State for Gender and Cultural Affairs and included female delegates from the areas of law, health and social affairs as well as members of parliament.

Much Gazette coverage has been given this year to the devastation in Haiti following the earthquake, including most recently the spread of cholera. However, another epidemic has been left unaddressed: the sexual violence against Haitian women and children.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Al-Qaida-linked militants in war-torn southern Somalia have banned unrelated men and women from shaking hands, speaking or walking together in public, residents said Saturday. People who break the rules could be imprisoned, whipped or even executed.

Afabet — Women in Afabet sub-zone are leading improved lifestyle thanks to the loan opportunity that encouraged them to engage in small-scale agriculture and business ventures.