A significant new law specifically linking violence against women with firearms possession was passed by the Colombian Congress in December 2008.

Founded three years ago, the Latin American Consortium of Women's Funds consists of seven women's funds in the Latin American region. The Consortium has become one of the most innovative feminist strategies for collectively mobilizing resources. AWID interviews Emillienne de Leon of Semillas, one of the women's funds that belong to the Consortium.

Latin America is home to some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world and women's organizations have fought for the right to safe and legal abortion for decades.

Following a referendum on January 26, 2009, Bolivia has a new constitution, with initial results suggesting that almost two-thirds of the turnout voted in favor.The news has delighted Bolivian pro-choice advocates, as it follows an arduous battle to ensure that early promises concerning women's rights and reproductive rights made it into the constitution's final draft.

The number of rapes carried out by civilians in eastern Congo has increased by 17-fold in the last few years, according to a study released Thursday that says sexual assaults long perpetrated by armed groups are spreading across the population.

The project "Strengthening Governance with a Gender Perspective and the Political Participation of Women at the Local Level in Latin America", has contributed to greater debate around the issue of women's political participation at the local level in the political, academic and media fields. This was one of the conclusions at the conference with representatives from 13 Latin American countries in Santo Domingo on 13 February.

With one year to go in office, women's groups and civil society organisations report positively on Chilean President Michelle Bachelet's government policies to promote gender equity. But there is still much to be done, they say.

"In all fairness, we must say there is a positive feeling about the work on women's rights done by the Bachelet administration," Lorena Fries, the president of the Humanas Corporation, told IPS.

Women are starting to find their place in the Colombian army. On Wednesday, 62 female cadets finish their three-month training at Bogotá's Military School, and they are aiming for more.

The 62 hope to climb their way up to army General, which would make them the first women to do so in Colombia.

In Colombia, indigenous groups continue to be targets in the 45-year conflict. Testimonies from displaced Embera women tell of physical abuse and rape.

Members of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in Suva are rallying together to convene a peace vigil to amplify the collective call for peace in The Middle East - Peace in the World.