The issue of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict and crisis has been featured prominently among scholars, organizations and institutions alike within the past few weeks. During the United Nations General Assembly, Secretary of State John Kerry announced a new US initiative, Safe from the Start, to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies worldwide.

Rwanda's new parliament was seated this month, with higher female representation than any other country in the world

The tiny East African nation's Parliament was seated this month and women dominated the room. In September elections they took 51 of 80 seats in Parliament – and at 64 percent, the country has the highest female representation of any nation on earth.

Washington, Oct 30, 2013 (SPS)

The U.S. Congresswoman and Chairwoman of the parliamentary group “Western Sahara caucus”, Ms. Betty McCollum, has expressed, in a meeting with African women delegation, her concern over the status quo of peace in the Western Sahara, especially with regard to the continued deterioration of human rights.

In a country where women's' rights are still fiercely contested, Soosan Firooz has added a strong new voice to the debate in Afghanistan.

Aged just 23, the Afghan actress has become the nation's first female rapper, making her debut with a song that speaks directly to other Afghans who have shared her experiences of pain and exile as refugees.

If history is anything to go by, women candidates fielded by the three major parties—UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—have only around 27 percent chances of winning the November election under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) poll system.

The Indian government has come under severe criticism in a UN-sponsored study for losing its focus on broader sexual and reproductive health of women while attempting to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

"The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12) in its 27 National Targets has a target on reduction of anaemia amongst women and girls, which has a direct bearing on maternal health and maternal mortality.

The role of women in politics of the country from the platform of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) was filled with splendid contributions from the movement for the creation of Pakistan to the establishment of an image of progressive Pakistan today. The role of women was still very vibrant under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

WIPSEN-AFRICA is a leading women-focused pan African Non-government Organization with the mandate to promote women's strategic participation and leadership in peace and security in Africa.

It visited several high schools in Barclayville and Greenville cities, conducted field assessments and Inter-generational dialogue with girls in various high schools within the two cities.

A searching independent review finds that NATO and its operational partners have made ‘significant progress' in implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in NATO-led operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo – but says there is ‘ample room for improvement'.

A new UN resolution to reiterate the importance of women's involvement in conflict prevention, resolution and peace-building has been passed by the security council.