Many Indonesian women and girls, especially those from poor and marginalised communities, struggle to achieve reproductive health in the face of discriminatory laws, policies and practices, a new report by Amnesty International says.

Cambodian government has affirmed its commitment to uplift women's status in society, especially, the women's role in serving public institutions, reports China's Xinhua news agency.

On October 27, 2010 Osh Province State Administration hosted a province level seminar on “Strengthening the role of women in consolidation of interethnic relations”. The seminar was organized by Family and Women Affairs Commission under the Osh Province State Administration upon the initiative of Osh Province Advisory Committee with the support of UNDP Peace and Development Program, Kyrgyzstan.

As Burma gears up for its first election in more than 20 years, Ye Maung and Khin Pyu Win explore key issues facing its people and what political parties plan to do about them. The first in the series discusses gender equality and women's rights.

MAUREEN Mwanawasa has said the Southern African Development Community (SADC) should take women's economic participation as one of the keys to sustainable development.

October 31 marked the tenth anniversary of the momentous UN resolution on women, peace and security—UNSCR 1325. This set a new international standard that requires all parties—the UN, states, and armed militias—to ensure that women participate fully in peace negotiations and post-conflict reconstruction. If this really worked, it would transform our militarized world.

The Women's Movement spearheaded by the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) recently launched the Uganda Women's Agenda to inform government, political parties, and other stakeholders about the critical issues to be addressed if meaningful development and empowerment of women is to be realised within the next five years.

On 10th anniversary of UN resolution 1325 people of South Caucasus are ready for greater women's political involvement, protection of women's rights.

What do women want? What do women need? How can women contribute?

These were just a few of the questions asked by Norwegian Minister of Defence, Ms. Grete Faremo at an open debate on Women, Peace and Security in the UN Security Council at UN Headquarters in New York City recently.

About Twenty-three (23) countries in the world have achieved a critical mass of 30 percent women in national parliaments viz: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Burundi, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Macedonia, Mozambique, Nepal, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania and Uganda.