An interactive exhibition of life-size photography that re-creates urban and rural life in Afghanistan will begin touring the United States this spring. “Streets of Afghanistan” immerses visitors in an area of the world most will never see, while exploring themes of shared humanity and compassion.

“Women and men of the Middle East condemn the rape of our bodies, the rape of our dignity and freedoms.”

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Former President of Israel Moshe Katsav was sentenced to seven years by the Tel Aviv District Court on March 22nd for two counts of rape and other sexual offenses against female employees. Once enjoying public acclaim and attention at the top of Israeli society, Katsav is now to enter prison in May.

The Global Virtual Knowledge Centre to End Violence against Women and Girls is an online resource in English, French and Spanish, designed to serve the needs of policymakers, programme implementers and other practitioners dedicated to addressing violence against women and girls.

For more than 30 years, the subject of political reform in most of the Middle East was largely a part of covert debates. In little more than 30 days, however, it has forcibly entered the realm of the overt.

Perhaps one of the most memorable facets of Egypt's pro-democracy uprisings earlier this year was the strong presence of women in the (largely peaceful) demonstrations that took place in Cairo's Tahrir Square and in other Egyptian public arenas.

On March 3, 2011, hundreds of women gathered to protest peacefully in Cote d'Ivoire to end the political stalemate and the worsening security situation. The Ivorian women took to the streets of Abidjan to put pressure on their leaders to end the stalemate and allow peace to prevail. Seven unarmed women protestors were killed in the process by forces loyal to former president Laurent Koudou Gbagbo.