Participation

The following video of an interview with Tolekan Ismailova (Kyrgyzstan), Director of the Citizens Against Corruption, has been edited for time and content. A transcript of the interview conducted by Cate Urban, assistant project manager of the World Movement, is included.

An International Conference on Woman's Role in Building of Peace was opened in Erbil, the capital of north Iraq's Kurdistan Region, with a large official and civilian presence on international, regional and local participation.

The conference was inaugurated by Kurdistan Region's Parliament Speaker, Kamal Kirkuki, who delivered a speech, welcoming the presence of delegates from different countries of the world.

Twenty-first-century war is different than earlier conflicts, and the faces in uniform are different too. More women serve in the armed forces and are promoted to ranked positions than ever before in military history.

Women's rights activist Vedrana Frašto speaks with AWID about the importance of challenging conventional representations to women's rights struggles in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

By Lejla Medanhodzic and Masum Momaya

In Cambodian society, which was matriarchal from its foundation, the question of why so few women hold top positions in the government, NGO community and private sector seems to escape all who attempt an answer.

With the assassination of Salman Taseer, the Governor of Punjab Province in Pakistan and an outspoken opponent of religious extremism, the divisions within Pakistani society are once again in the news. Perhaps there is no better time to see the documentary Bhutto, which not only tells the story of Pakistan's first woman Prime Minister, but also gives extensive background on this country's history.

Women and Conflict Transformation in Asia, the Pacific, and the United States

As a physician and politician in Iraq, Dr. Nara Ibrahim is no stranger to risking her life in the name of progress. “As a female politician, I was subject to killing threats. Some of my friends and colleagues were kidnapped and killed,” she said calmly, adding intently, “I hope for a better future.”

The organic revolution that ousted the Tunisian president last week is unlikely to spread through the Arab world anytime soon. But Arab leaders have surely learned a good lesson. Never again will they underestimate the power of poverty. Unfortunately, they may continue ignoring the main force that is so essential for developing their countries' economies: Women.