SA RANKS highly on the World Economic Forum's latest global gender gap index, coming in at number 12 out of 134 countries. Alas, this does not mean the battle of the sexes is over.

In southern Sudan preparations are underway for the referendum scheduled for January 9 that will decide whether that part of the country secedes from the north. Part of the preparations for the vote, and for a possible future state, include training a regional police force.

In the opening sequence of the new documentary film, Budrus, the camera follows a winding road to the home of Palestinian activist, Ayed Morrar.

"We don't have time for war. We want to raise our kids in peace and hope," he states in Hebrew, addressing any Israelis in the cinema audience.

The African Women's Decade, AWD (2010-2020) has been launched. It has the theme "grassroots approach to gender equality and women's empowerment".

The AWD was launched at the Kenyatta international Conference Center (KICC) in Nairobi today by Kenyan President Mr. Mwai Kibaki. AU Chairperson Dr Bingu wa Mutharika spoke at the launch as did the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr Jean Ping.

From 5th to 7th October 2010, over seventy (70) African Women Church Leaders from 12 Countries of Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe together with their Finnish Partners from Helsinki Deaconesses Institute (HDI) met in Nairobi's Grace Guest House to reflect and deliberate on issues relating to African women, Culture, gender-based-violence, HIV and AIDS and

Marie Musa, 37, is devastated. After the mother of four gave premature birth, her baby boy died a few hours later – because the hospital did not have enough incubators to rescue the infant.

The Azerbaijani and Armenian women' organizations should be involved in resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Secretary General of the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation Lena Ag told journalists today.

Many of Congo's rape survivors took to the streets Sunday to speak out against sexual violence in a country where it has become a weapon of war.

"My heart is in pain, why are you raping me?" sang the rape victims, many of whom left hospital beds to join the march in eastern Congo.

A scheme supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) seeks to help needy households – mostly headed by poor single mothers – send their children to school and receive health care.