Participation

In Libya, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Tunisia, and elsewhere, women have stood with men pushing for change. In Libya, Iman and Salwa Bagaighif are helping lead, shape, and support protesters. And in Egypt, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, one of the oldest and most well-known non-governmental organizations in Egypt, estimated that at least 20 percent of the protesters were women.

Burma's newly formed Parliament has a total of 659 elected members. Of these, 20 are women. National Democratic Force (NDF) MP Khin Waing Kyi, 64, talked with Mizzima reporter Phanida about her role in Parliament, women MPs and the topics and issues women can bring to the debates and actions in the new lawmaking body. No women have been appointed or elected to serve as ministers in Burma's new government.

This week marked the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.

In two South Asian countries, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, women seeking equality have seen some surprising gains despite ongoing setbacks.

Your Excellencies, the Ministers
Special Representative of UN Secretary-General
Your Excellencies the Ambassadors
Generous Members of the House of Representatives

In the 1970s, the women's liberation movement had a badge that proclaimed: women who seek equality with men lack ambition. We don't want to participate as equals in the violence, oppression and greed of patriarchal power, says Rebecca Johnson.

Soon after the launch of the US-led war in 2003, Iraq witnessed the emergence of a violent conflict and the deepening of splits along communal, religious, confessional, tribal and ethnic lines. The resulting chaos gave rise to growing insecurity and lawlessness and an upsurge in religious extremism. A backlash against women's rights and feminist activists was seen, opening old and new avenues for discrimination and violence against women.

Donald Steinberg is the deputy administrator for USAID. He previously served as deputy president of the International Crisis Group. He is also a former member of the U.N. Civil Society Advisory Group on Women, Peace and Security, a former board member of the Women's Refugee Commission, and also previously served on the advisory panel to the executive director of the U.N. Development Fund for Women.

In the midst of a Middle East meltdown, in the midst of the most dangerous mayhem and madness, can a feminist and human rights revolution really be brewing in…Saudi Arabia? We know that Saudi Arabia is exceptionally barbaric towards its women and to all progressive thought. Women are not allowed to drive, and they cannot travel, accept employment, or open a bank account without the approval of a male relative.

David Cortright is director of Policy Studies at the University of Notre Dame's Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. In October, he presented to the United Nations a report titled Afghan Women Speak: Enhancing Security and Human Rights in Afghanistan. It included recommendations for U.S. and NATO policymakers.

The President has taken part in the first congress of Kazakhstan's women, which was held in the city of Astana. The head of state noted that women have always been his most faithful teammates and the country's leader also hopes it will remain so during the new stage of the Republic's development.