The New Democratic Party of Canada introduced a motion to the House of Commons to make Canada a leader in ending sexual violence in conflict worldwide. The motion was announced today shortly after 3 pm in the House of Commons.

If new elections are held, Fatema Khafagy will not be sorry to see the months-old Islamist parliament go.

In the "Arab Spring" countries in transition, women are now marginalized or excluded entirely from political bodies. Denial of one's fundamental right to participate in the democratic process in one's own country is one form of violence. Yet it is not, unfortunately, alone in the pattern of violence involving restrictions on women.

“Rio what?” asks Saba Khan, 25, married and the mother of two young daughters, only able to catch the first part of the name of the city where the summit on sustainable development is taking place.

Having studied until tenth grade, Khan, who works as a housemaid in the posh Clifton area of Karachi, Pakistan, has no idea where Rio de Janeiro is or why world leaders are meeting there.

The video for this story, from the Women and War series, can be viewed here.

In Souleimaniya, in Iraqi Kurdistan, Nahida is the CO of the Women's Unit in the Peshmerga Army in her region. Nahida's dream started when she was only fourteen; she used to carry messages and weapons to the Kurdish resistance forces fighting against Saddam Hussein's regime.

Just over a week ago, the very first Dialogue for Action Africa was held in Libreville, Gabon. More than 550 individuals representing NGOs, businesses and governments from across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, India, China and the United States joined us to put forward their expertise in politics, health, education, development and business.

The Minister of Works and Transport, Erkki Nghi­mtina, has called on the youth to condemn acts of violence against women and children, and passion killings.

Addressing youth at the Swapo Party Youth League Ohangwena Regional Conference at Eenhana last Saturday, Nghimtina said it was disappointing that cases of passion killings, particularly among young people, were on the increase.

Cambodian women have fewer opportunities than men, and less access to economic and political positions of power, a World Bank report says.

Transparency Rwanda (TR) has cautioned banks and other employers to desist from asking for sexual favours from women seeking employment.

Citing a past survey conducted by TR, Francine Umurungi, in charge of Institutional Development and Advocacy in Transparency Rwanda, said most women aspiring for positions in banks suffer from sexual exploitation from the managers.

For the first time in Iraqi Kurdistan women are protected by a new law against some of the traditions most harmful towards them.

On Wednesday the regional parliament ratified a bill banning female genital mutilation and domestic violence. This is a landmark law in a region that is more steeped in such practices than surrounding countries.