Participation

Women should have greater opportunities in decision-making processes to ensure the effectiveness of policy programs designed to help the poor — especially women and children — activists say.

Aceh Indonesian Women Coalition (KPI) representative Safwani said that pro-women policies could only be administered if relevant stakeholders participate with government initiatives at all levels, including the local ones.

The government of Indonesia on Monday announced it will soon implement the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security, the country's Antara news agency reported.

The Mubarak government took some measures to include women in the political process and public life.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced a new partnership between the U.S. Department of State and five prestigious all-female colleges.

Iraqi women hoped that last year's election would cement a larger role for them in the government. But they have less political influence today than at any time since the American invasion.

The policies of social inclusion implemented by the Venezuelan government over the last 12 years have allowed the country to achieve one the most positive gender equality indexes in the entire region: 0.5 – considering “0” as full equality and “1” as total inequality – said the Minister of Women's Affairs and Gender Equality, Nancy Perez.

Women lawmakers were at the helm during yesterday's session at the House of Representatives as part of the chamber's activities to celebrate Women's Month.

Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia presided as Speaker while some of her female colleagues took key posts in the all-women session that tackled legislation on women's welfare and health.

The U.S. Department of State has awarded Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva the International Women of Courage Award, Kyrgyz media reported on Wednesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented the award to Otunbayeva and nine other women in Washington on Tuesday in the presence of the country's first lady, Michelle Obama.

Arab women were integral players in the post-colonial revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, but soon lost ground. They are vowing not to be marginalized in the wake of this year's Arab spring.

Egyptian women demanding equal rights on the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day were shoved by men who said they should go home where they belong. Congolese women asked their government to protect them from systematic rapes, and women in Croatia who lost their jobs accused the government of corruption.