Participation

Iranian women are not the type of women who remain silent and consider themselves lesser than men. Unfortunately, after their revolution, women's rights have been violated. Today, we see that women are ahead of men in the rightful protests. No matter what results from the current crisis, majority of them believe that women, who make up about 65 percent of Iran's university students, will keep pushing for more rights.

Better late than never: Following this axiom, the UN Security Council which normally debates country-specific and war-and-peace issues such as Sudan and the Middle East, decided to widen its horizon and discussed in a high-level session some of the root causes underlying conflicts around the world.

Judging from her résumé, Leah Cox has the makings of a solid political candidate.

The Orangevale woman heads a nonprofit group that briefs legislators on obesity-prevention policy and speaks with a confidence that comes from years in public life.

Mahfouz, who began online political activism in 2008, is now credited for launching a video call that sparked the revolution against the autocratic military rule of U.S.-backed President Hosni Mubarak.

2011 is going to be the year of women for the world's largest and most powerful international Muslim body. The 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has prepared an action plan to advance the status and rights of women among its member states. And the OIC's next chair-nation, Kazakhstan, is set to make that issue a priority.

In a meeting on Sunday with more than 20 representatives of women's organisations in the Kurdistan Region, President Masoud Barzani reiterated his strong support for women's rights.

In the heart of Egypt's capital and only a few minutes from the Nile, women from all walks of life are now calling Tahrir (Liberation) Square home. Thousands of men and women are camping in protection of the square, which has come to symbolize an entire country's struggle.

Human rights has been a hot topic in Afghanistan since the Taliban's near-medieval treatment of Afghan girls and women became known. Now that Afghanistan is working toward a more modern society and government, the rights of the nation's female population are moving front and center for those in charge of NATO Training Mission Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan.

Two years ago, a small team of female Marines -- drivers, engineers, cooks and other specialists -- began conducting "female engagement" initiatives with women in southern Afghanistan.

Ten years after the Security Council called for greater involvement of women in peacebuilding, United Nations peacekeeping missions have a mixed record and need to deploy greater efforts to reach the goal, according to a study launched today.