In this summer of 2005, which marks the sixtieth anniversary of Japan's defeat in WWII, we are opening the Women's Active Museum of War and Peace.

Hoping to share stories from the Holy Land and to urge U.S. citizens to open their eyes to how tax money is being spent in Israel, three women from the Middle East visited Northeastern State University Thursday morning as part of “Jerusalem Women Speak.”

Too often women and children bear the greatest brunt of war. Violence against women is repeatedly used to break and humiliate women, men and communities in conflict areas around the world.

On October 31, 2000 the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on women and peace and security. But its implementation has been far too slow.

Gender Across Borders is planning a series about gendered experiences of war and peacebuilding.

The general public rarely sees a nuanced image of conflict situations. Typically, women are either labeled as victims or essentialized as peacemakers. Likewise, men are portrayed as perpetrators and power brokers. Between these one-dimensional categorizations is a more complex reality.

Excerpts from Speech of Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury at the Peace Fair Commemmorating the 10th Anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325
on Women, Peace & Security. NY THE FULL SPEECH IS ATTACHED. Ambassador Chowdhury was President of the UN Security Council at the time UN SC Res 1325
was considered, and was very instrumental in its passage.
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Diana and Lisa's recent trip to Haiti reminded us of the remarkable power in a simple tool: a plastic whistle. During their visit, women from KOFAVIV, an organization founded by and for rape survivors, gathered in circles, singing, clapping, and dancing in place as brightly-colored whistles bounced from lanyards around their necks.

Dilma Rousseff has just been elected President of Brazil, making her the country's first female president. She is the latest woman in Latin America to take up the top job. BBC News profiles the women presidents of the region - both past and present.

Please click here for the article with pictures.

One of the most vexing problems of global security is the recurring nature of conflict: Old wars rarely die. More often, they peter out in ceasefires of exhaustion. Fragile truces bring an end to hostilities but do not address the underlying grievances that led to the wars in the first place.

And then they reignite.

For wars occurring in various countries and war zones, record shows that ninety percent of casualties are civilians, women and children. As women become a vulnerable sector for violence, they became easy targets of inflictions. Women are the backbones of every family. As women turn out to be unsafe, the issue on peace and security are mired with daunting future, as well.

With women's rights on the decline in Burma, Mizzima reporter The The interviewed Thin Thin Aung from the Women's League of Burma (WLB) in the run-up to the 2010 general election.

Q: The WLB has outlined various discriminations against women and gender inequality in Burma. So, which rights are being violated and how is violence against women being committed? What are the reasons for these violations?