UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi paid an official visit to Georgia on 10-12 May. The objective of the mission was to meet with government and civil society partners, review the progress and achievements of UNIFEM's programme in the country and discuss further work.

In the wake of allegations that a male guard at a central Texas detention facility sexually assaulted female detainees on their way to being deported, immigrant advocacy groups say stronger oversight and accountability is urgently needed to prevent further abuse of female detainees.

This October we will mark the tenth anniversary of the Security Council's groundbreaking resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, which called for higher levels of women's involvement in peacemaking and peacebuilding.

Earlier this month, I was invited by the White House to watch President Obama nominate Solicitor General Elena Kagan to serve on the Supreme Court.

The ceremony was even more moving than I expected, and that took me a little by surprise.

The President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, will tomorrow Tuesday June 8th 2010 launch the ‘Sierra Leone National Action Plan (SiL NAP) on United Nation Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820.' This special event, is hosted by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender & Children's Affairs (MSWGCA) in collaboration with the United Nations, Cordaid, WANEP, WANMAR 1325 and Femme Africa Solidarite.

Eight years after Sierra Leone's civil war ended, some communities have yet to come to terms with the destruction, murder and rape committed on them by their own people. Many have never spoken of what happened to them during the war and most have never confessed to the crimes they committed. Until now. A unique community healing process is reuniting villages that suffered some of the worst violence of the conflict.

Nigerian troops sent to keep peace in the country's troubled northern city of Jos have been accused of carrying out rape and killing of women, but the military has dismissed the allegations.

In recognition of the upcoming 10th anniversary of the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution (SCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, UNAMID today sponsored "Open Day" in El Fasher, North Darfur.

A law on gender parity in electoral lists, approved by a large majority in Senegal's National Assembly, has been welcomed by women from diverse walks of life.

For legislator Ndèye Fatou Touré, the law will give a considerable boost to women. "Parity is a lifting of obstacles, an open door. This law will allow women equal access to decision-making," she told IPS.

Earlier this year, Sharia police arrested a 20-year-old college student and her boyfriend for indecency; they had been spending time together even though they were not legally married.

Her boyfriend was released, but she was detained and then allegedly raped by three policemen. Two of the men are on trial, while the third is at large.