Cape Town — Governance standards have improved significantly in Angola, Liberia and Togo over the past four years, but have declined in Eritrea and Madagascar, according to a leading survey assessing the quality of governance across Africa.

United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) hosted an international conference enhancing the role of women in confidence and peace building processes at Betsy's Hotel on October 12.

Kigali — The Commissioner General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, yesterday met a contingent of female police officers who are soon to be deployed on the United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and challenged them to raise the image of the country and act professionally while on the mission.

NAIROBI and KAMPALA, Sep 30 (IPS) - Regina Namukasa has been twice dispossessed – first when her husband died and his clan left her out when dividing up his estate, and again when she was denied a share in her father's land. But this time she's fighting back.

In an effort to build a new Liberia to complement Government's development program, the women of Liberia yesterday launched a civil society movement under one canopy known as the Coalition of Civil Society Women of Liberia (COCISWOL).

The launching program which brought together hundreds of Liberian women was held in Sinkor between 11 and 12 Streets at the auditorium of the Bible Society of Liberia.

Kurdish women broke the silence through their long lasting struggle against suppressions and general assimilations as well.

"On the occasion of the announcement of the five-year European Strategy for Gender Equality, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding recognized the need for a pan-European strategy to combat violence against women, including sexual violence that, according to the Council of Europe, affects more than one tenth of women living in Europe.

Why won't the Security Council endorse the Secretary General's strategy for enhancing women's role in matters of peace and security? Is it because of the deep divisions within the UN system itself? Or is it because of the Russians? Lyric Thompson reports on the battle behind the scenes at the UN

Participants in the conference entitled “Gender issue and reform of security sector in the Republic of Serbia” have pledged today for the greater involvement of women in this field – police, military customs and security services.