Working with ex-child soldiers of Charles Taylor's army, and the girls they have taken as wives, has convinced Nobel Peace laureate Leymah Gbowee that the abuse women suffer during conflict is a reflection of the interaction between men and women, boys and girls, during peace time.

Leymah Gbowee is one of three women who have been awarded jointly this year's Nobel Peace Prize. This article was first published in May 2011.

Ten years ago, life was still hard for the women of Ijuhanyondo village in Tanzania.

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. James J. Vooris)

In the third week of December 2011, a confluence of political events profoundly affecting Iraqi and American women took place.

(Photo Bulent Kilic / AFP/Getty Images)

Would a traditional struggle overwhelmed by sexism and affiliated discriminative tendencies be capable of liberating Kurdistan?

As the new year eve approached, my twitter and Facebook were filled with new year messages. Unfortunately, a sizeable number of those in Pakistan had less than fond memories of 2011 and hardly any hopeful predictions for 2012.

Understandably so.

Nget Chhon, 71, was surprised, but not afraid, when anti-riot police punched her in the eye and beat her over the head during a protest against forced land evictions.

“We women must address issues that women are facing. Therefore, we have to enter into politics."

Bringing rural women's voices to the decision making table was one of the discussions throughout the recent two week Durban Climate Talks (COP17) which ended on 9 December. One of the conference goals was to bring greater insights for action with solutions for climate change. But are global leaders bringing rural women's voices to the table?