2011 was not so good despite CSOs input into efforts to ensure that the rights of women were upheld, that is the vedict of women activists. Several women's right advocates have said they expect to see a change in the way government responds to women's rights issues next year, 2012.

Dame Carol Kidu, Papua New Guinea's only female MP, cut a lonely figure in parliament today

A landmark bill aimed at guaranteeing women-only seats in the parliament of Papua New Guinea has failed to get the votes required as the nation's political crisis continues.

Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA: Net Saveoun was 18 when she was gang raped by Khmer Rouge soldiers. She was one of 30 women selected to “carry salt” and taken to the forest in Pursat province, western Cambodia in 1978. Each of them was beaten, brutalised and had their throat slit before being tossed into an open grave.

UN Women Executive Director Bachelet arrives at the headquarters for the Children Hope project, also known as "Crianca Esperanca," in Rio de Janeiro on December 16, 2011

CAIRO: Egyptian women, angered by the recent violence used against them in clashes between police and protesters that has left at least 14 dead and over 700 injured in Cairo over the past five days, marched towards Tahrir Square from different venues around the city on Tuesday.

Continued Militarization: Increased Violence Against Women Human Rights Defenders During Dispersal of Cabinet Sit-in Women Activists Beaten, Brutalized and Subjected to Sexual Violence.

Egyptian women protesters “are being attacked, stripped and beaten in the streets” by security forces, a “disgrace” that dishonors the country, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday.

The top U.S. diplomat said Egypt's leaders, in the military and in its political parties, are excluding women from decision- making as the country makes its transition to civilian-led rule.

Gender activists have proposed a guide to monitor performance of governments in eliminating sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the Great Lakes Region to ensure commitment towards addressing the vice.

CAIRO: Egyptian female activists are calling on social networks to form a frontline of women at the stand-off point between the military and protesters in downtown Cairo scheduled for later on Sunday, in an attempt to halt the violence that has continued since Friday morning.

Thank you. Well, it is wonderful to be back at Georgetown to give all of the students an excuse not to keep studying for their last finals. (Laughter.) That's what accounts for the enthusiastic response here in Gaston Hall.