Maria Malele, 20, looks down at her hands while she explains in her native Swahili how she was gang-raped by rebels in her home in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), six months ago.

Since the 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel has demolished close to 25,000 Palestinian homes in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem in violation of both human rights law and international humanitarian law, leading to mass displacement and violations of their housing, land and property rights.

Long-term activism in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır has empowered women to protect themselves through support networks, according to an official for a local municipality.

What challenges do women face in politics?

There have been many constraints on women entering into politics. This is why in 2002 the affirmative action plan was put in place, which reserved 60 seats for women in the National Assembly and 17 in the Senate.

GALKAYO, Somalia - Aid workers in Somalia say they are seeing an alarming number of rapes in refugee camps housing those who fled violence in Mogadishu.

The Galkayo Education Center for Peace and Development said it has documented 51 cases of rape against women in camps in the Somali town of Galkayo this year. Last year the centre documented 104 cases. Many cases go unreported.

Uganda"affirmed "chronic poverty and disability in Uganda are inextricably linked. Despite impressive economic gains in the past 15 years, current evidence suggests that at least 2.4 million disabled persons remain poor."

A UN Security Council committee has ordered sanctions against a Democratic Republic of Congo army officer accused of murdering and raping women and children, and three rebel leaders.

Innocent Zimurinda, a militia leader who was brought into the DR Congo army and made a lieutenant colonel, has long been one of the most feared names in the strife-torn eastern part of the African nation, diplomats said.

For a long time, Merthus Ntahobakuriye, 53, did not think much of being drunk daily or refusing to help out with household chores. He sold the little they had to maintain his drinking habit.

A UN Security Council committee has placed four people from the Great Lakes on the UN sanctions list, including Democratic Republic of Congo Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Zimurinda. The US, UK and French permanent missions to the UN issued the statement, saying that those on the list will be subject to a worldwide travel ban and asset freeze.

Displaced Iraqi female-headed families who have returned home are still experiencing major livelihood challenges, says the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

An IOM survey of 1,355 female-headed displaced families who have returned to their places of origin found that 74 percent are struggling to secure adequate nutrition for their families.