Participation

Juba — South Sudan president, Salva Kiir unexpectedly reversed an earlier order, appointing five ministers and an equal number of deputy ministers in the newly formed government.

Kiir, in an executive order issued Sunday, also split ministries that were previously combined with another, into separate institutions as it were before the entire government was dissolved on 23 July.

Women organizations and Inter Party Women Network (IPWN) are going to launch a series of protest programs in the capital to press for their demand to ensure representation of 33 percent women in the next Constituent Assembly (CA).

The National Elections Commission (NEC) in collaboration with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) has commenced a two- day gender strategy and methodology workshop in Monrovia. The workshop, which is being held at a local hotel, started Wednesday with NEC Chairman Cllr. Jerome Korkoya, emphasizing the need for more women participation.

It's hard to underscore enough the role women have played in Liberia's recent history.

During the civil war years (1989-2003), rape of women and girls was used by rival factions to humiliate and instill fear, according to Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The United Nations has estimated more than 40,000 women were raped during the war years.

Afghan women's rights advocate Masouda Karokhi was announced as one of the eight winners of the 2013 N-Peace Awards, the N-Peace Network announced on their Facebook site today. According to their website, the N-Peace initiative and the Awards campaign are managed by the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Center (APRC).

To initiate consultation with different stakeholders on laws for women's issues, the Sindh government formed an eight-member committee comprising female legislators on Wednesday.

NEW YORK, July 31, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Reduction of Military Set for Next Year, Possible Further Drawdowns in 2015

With constitutional quotas for interest group seats in their favour and all political parties legally bound to respect women's quota of at least 30 per cent of their parliamentary nominees, women may retain or even widen their majority in the Chamber of Deputies after the upcoming September elections.

A dozen women were seated in the courtyard underneath a traditional African roof. They were casually chatting while engrossed in stringing colourful beads. Some were making bracelets decorated with the South Sudanese flag to celebrate two years of the country's independence on July 9. For many, the income from selling their handicrafts here at the Roots Project is the first they have earned in their lives.

There is need to invest in women's empowerment and leadership in order for countries to achieve sustainable development.

Peter Malnak, USAID Rwanda Mission director, made the remarks yesterday while opening the first partners meeting for a Women's Leadership Programme in Kigali.

The Women's Leadership Programme is a USAID-supported project that operates in four countries worldwide: Rwanda, South Sudan, Armenia and Paraguay.