INTERNATIONAL: Three Proven Steps to Advance the World's Women, on International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day, and in fact the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. It's a date that is much better known abroad but is beginning to get more traction in the U.S. as well.

INTERNATIONAL: Marking International Women's Day

International Women's Day is celebrated each year on March eighth. Groups around the world use this day to honor the progress of women. They also use the day to call attention to the social, political and economic problems facing women and girls. Among the issues are forced marriage, sexual abuse, poverty and a lack of education.

INTERNATIONAL: Gender, War and Conflict Transformation

Shelley Anderson is an old colleague with an inspiring track record in gender work. We see things very much alike. As she suggests in her article Vital peace constituencies a hidden war is being waged against women: a war on many fronts, expressed as beatings, rapes (whether marital or otherwise), ‘honour killings' and other murders.

SUDAN: "Reflections on International Women's Day"

The following is among the postings by U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration as he travels and works in his capacity as special envoy.

IRAQ: Eyes on the Prize for Iraqi Women

Today, let's celebrate the women of Iraq.

On Sunday, over 1,800 female parliamentary candidates vied for 82 seats in Iraq's nationwide election. For the first time since 2003, campaign posters featuring larger-than-life headshots of the candidates (not of their husbands, as in previous years) hung alongside those of their male rivals.

INTERNATIONAL: Deputy Secretary-General, in Women's Commission, Hails Possible New Gender Entity at United Nations as 'Historic Opportunity' to Give Women Stronger Voice Globally

Addressing the Commission on the Status of Women's fifty-fourth session this afternoon, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said the General Assembly's proposal to create a United Nations body for gender issues was an historic opportunity to give women a stronger voice in global governance and policymaking.

ISRAEL/OPT: Middle East Women Ahead But Not Home

Male leaders fail to break the Mideast impasse. Enter women from Israel and the Palestinian territories working together. And… it would have been nice to say they succeeded where the men failed.

They didn't. The women have been ahead of the times, in speaking of solutions others thought unmentionable once, but now increasingly accept. And yet, peace seems more difficult than ever.

INTERNATIONAL: Women in Politics The Fight to End Violence Against Women

Despite the remarkable progress of women in many professions, politics is not one of them. Indeed, around the world, women have been conspicuous by their absence in decision and policy making in government.

INTERNATIONAL: Confronting Violence Against Women -- What Has Worked Well - and Why

Violence against women and girls is a virulent form of abuse and discrimination that transcends race, class and national identity. It takes many forms and may be physical, sexual, psychological and economic, but all are usually interrelated as they trigger complex feedback effects. Other specific types of violence, such as trafficking in women and girls, often occurs across national boundaries.

Pages