Participation

Fighting to make Bosnia-Herzegovina's constitution acknowledge women

For several years, Bosnia and Herzegovina's constitution has been under political discussions for reform. Now, for the first time, women's organisations from both of the country's entities, have joined forces to make sure that gender equality isn't forgotten this time around.

Rwanda's new parliament was seated this month, with higher female representation than any other country in the world

The tiny East African nation's Parliament was seated this month and women dominated the room. In September elections they took 51 of 80 seats in Parliament – and at 64 percent, the country has the highest female representation of any nation on earth.

In a country where women's' rights are still fiercely contested, Soosan Firooz has added a strong new voice to the debate in Afghanistan.

Aged just 23, the Afghan actress has become the nation's first female rapper, making her debut with a song that speaks directly to other Afghans who have shared her experiences of pain and exile as refugees.

If history is anything to go by, women candidates fielded by the three major parties—UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—have only around 27 percent chances of winning the November election under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) poll system.

The role of women in politics of the country from the platform of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) was filled with splendid contributions from the movement for the creation of Pakistan to the establishment of an image of progressive Pakistan today. The role of women was still very vibrant under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

A new UN resolution to reiterate the importance of women's involvement in conflict prevention, resolution and peace-building has been passed by the security council.

Female representation in the legislature remains low, especially in the eastern part of Indonesia, despite increases from election to election, says a minister.

The modern Arab world has never known a female leader, and against all odds, Syria may be the country where it happens first. Forget Bashar Assad and the other male politicians who dominate coverage of the war-torn nation, and turn your attention to two women: Suhair Atassi and Razan Zaitouneh.

Women in Rwanda are at the centre of the country's development agenda, thanks to recent law reforms, MP-elect Esperance Mwiza, has said.

Half a million women were raped during the Rwandan genocide. As many as 64,000 suffered sexual violence during Sierra Leone's brutal blood diamond fueled civil war. And 40,000 were raped in Bosnia. The sheer magnitude of women raped and the frequency of the crime tells us something. These attackers aim to do more than rape. They seek to shame and demoralize, break down the fabric of victim communities, and stigmatize survivors for life.