In Timor-Leste, women are key players in reshaping the future of the second youngest country in the world. Dulce Junior, 36, is one such woman. “Mana” (Sister) Dulce, as her friends and colleagues call her, is one of the country's many prominent women activists who are working to put women's needs at the center of how the Government approaches development and poverty reduction.

UNDP is targeting the National Parliament in Timor-Leste in a renewed bid to ensure that Asia's newest state is grounded on gender equality and inclusive growth.

Kenyan forces at the Somali border and in nearby refugee camps are abusing asylum seekers and refugees fleeing war-torn Somalia. Kenya tightened security along its border with Somalia in February in anticipation of a government offensive against Al-Shabbab and other anti-government groups, which has yet to occur. There were fears that Somali fighters might enter Kenya if attacked at home.

Two years ago, Claudia Felizardo Armando from Mozambique applied for a job - with a difference. She signed up to find and destroy land mines in a country heavily scarred by the remnants of 16 years of civil war.

Armando became one of the first local women deminers for the HALO Trust, a charity that removes land mines and other war debris in affected countries around the world.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste, Ameerah Haq, presided over a dialogue with civil society on UN Security Council resolution 1325 in Dili on 11 June, on the occasion of the Global Open Day on women and peace.

The Anti FGM-Iran (Action Against Female Genital Mutilation) project is seeking to employ assistants for a team in the three main provinces in Iranian Kurdistan. The goal is to combat female genital mutilation and to collect data on suicide and violence against women. The anti-FGM team wants to visit two villages a day in the three provinces of West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan and Kermanshah.

A women member of Kurdistan parliament said today that most of the women parliament members have difficulties in shaping an association to deal with the women's problems in Kurdistan Region. "We suppose that the Kurdish women parliament members do not need to conclude under the umbrella because the women parliaments have opportunity to shed a light on the women's platforms in parliament," said Gasha Dara.

In five years, women will occupy half of all executive positions in government.

This is mandated by the Magna Carta of Women's Implementing Rules and Regulations stipulating parity between the sexes such that women shall compose at least 40 percent of all development councils, from the regional level to the barangay.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita “Ging” Deles is getting a second chance to push for peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the New People's Army (NPA).

In London, campaigners protested against "medievalism and barbarity" Hundreds of people have held rallies across the world in support of an Iranian woman sentenced to death for adultery. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was originally told she would be killed by stoning but the sentence was put on hold following an international outcry. In London, campaigners protested against what they described as "medievalism and barbarity".