Last month saw two major stories involving sexual abuse in the headlines of Nicaraguan newspapers. First came the account of a mentally and physically disabled 12-year-old girl allegedly raped by four policemen and a security guard 30 meters from the presidential compound in the capital. Three policemen were arrested, but not the guard, who local media reported works for a company with political ties to a top Sandinista leader.

While a lot of important news has been coming out of the United Nations General Assembly lately, there is one story that may not make the front pages, but should be at the front of our minds: the health of women and children around the world.

Winning the endorsement of the ANC Women's League (ANCWL) is useful, but not critical. Of the 4,500 voting delegates who will attend Mangaung, 45 will be drawn from the ANCWL, the same amount as from the Youth League and the Veteran's League. This is minuscule compared to, say, the 974 delegates coming from KwaZulu-Natal province.

The centre is part refuge, part meeting place. She is part tutor and part mentor to her visitors. But for the Taliban, she is all irritant: the insurgents have said they will kill her if they catch her.

“The fact remains that women's bodies remain a battleground, and impunity remains the norm rather than the exception,” said Michelle Bachelet, a former president of Chile and the current executive director of U.N. Women. “The experience of women during and after conflict continues to be one of violence and insecurity.”

Over three consecutive days, ending Sep. 23, low-income residents of high-rise flats on River Road, Penang Island, cast ‘ballots' to compellingly indicate to planners their priorities.

In August 2011, UN Women signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority to provide technical assistance, enhance institutional efforts and support gender responsive policies leading towards gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Last Tuesday in New York, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague announced that the UK government will give £1M for the United Nations' efforts to end, punish, and prevent sexual violence in conflict. The donation is both commendable and necessary.

Natasha Makengo manages to embody that dream combination of scientific knowledge, artistic skill and natural communication. The Congolese-born 25-year-old has a degree in molecular biology and is a singer and painter. She has also campaigned with the charity Save the Congo since 2009 and now directs their interfaith programme, as well as working for the Institute of Child Health at University College London.

There is a frequent image of African women restricted under a male dominated culture.

Yet much of the institutional limitations came with colonization and the spread of the traditional Abrahamic religions. (For a glimpse at women in earlier times, Google Queen Nzinga of Angola.) Today, however rapid strides are being made.