Gender-based violence is a problem facing millions of women worldwide. Forced marriage, honor killing and female genital mutilation are just a few of the human rights abuses directed against women solely because of their gender. In the United States, a number of organizations are trying to help women who are trying to flee their country to escape this gender-based persecution, using the judicial system to help them get asylum.

This week, 66 women from some of Sudan's diverse and volatile regions are in Juba for a conference called “Pathways to Sustainable Peace in Sudan: Why We Can't Wait!” Joining them are 10 Sudanese women now living in the United States and Canada who are members of a group called Sisterhood for Peace.

Hamas on Wednesday announced new regulations on shops selling women's clothes as part of a campaign to safeguard "public morality" in its Gaza enclave.

Lebanon may be used as a regional base for the spread of gender equality, a representative from the Council of Europe (CE), a Europe-wide organization concerned with the promotion of human rights and the rule of law, revealed Tuesday.

"Today I was again contacted after being interrogated, I was summoned through a telephone call. I don't know what the problem is this time. At any rate, tomorrow I have to go to the Evin prosecutor's office.

In Afghanistan, despite a pledge from the government to protect women's rights and promote gender equality, more than 87% of Afghan women suffer from domestic abuse. According to the United Nations, between 60 to 80 percent of marriages are forced. In 2009, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission registered about 2,269 cases of violence against women. In January of 2010 alone there were 235 cases.

A group of NATO Training Mission –Afghanistan mentors hosted a women's forum for female Afghan National Army members July 18 at the Logistics Command in Kabul. Afghan women face many challenges; cultural, societal and religious views create barriers that often prevent them from entering the work force, attending school or joining their military.

An organization that works to enhance literacy among immigrant families in Germany and an innovative programme in Egypt to help village girls become leaders in their communities are among this year's winners of the International Literacy Prizes awarded by the United Nations.

Hana' Abu Haikal: "MIFTAH ( The Palestinian Initative for Promotion of Global Dialouge and Democracy) has armed me with enough knowledge to continue on this path"

It was a typically hot, humid day in this eastern coastal village. The sun burned down from a cloudless sky, roasting the skin as an angry sea breeze swatted the faces of the few foolish enough to venture out onto the deserted main road that runs through town.