Participation

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina– The Women's Democracy Network (WDN) along with the International Republican Institute (IRI) organized a two-day multi-party democratic governance training in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for newly-elected female members of the national and both entities' (Federation and Republika Srpska) parliament (BiH's governmental structure includes different legislatures to guarantee representation of Bosn

Iraqi women have been angered by the new government formation in their country, which sorely lacks female representation, wrote Meead al Taei in an opinion piece for the pan-Arab daily Asharq al Awsat.

Iraq's female parliamentarians refused to control the single ministry they were offered so far in the hope of leading some of the more important ministries.

The official spokesman for the 13th congress of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) stated Tuesday the assembly members have agreed to allocate 10% quota to female members for the leadership of the party.

Earlier this month, much of the world turned its attention to Brazil for the inauguration of the country's first woman president, Dilma Rousseff . Rousseff joined Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica and Cristina Kirchner of Argentina as one of the region's three female heads of state in Latin America.

A member of Kurdistan Blocs Coalition (KBC), called on Tuesday on her coalition to give women the ministry of Trade or civil society as a legal benefit.

Alaa Talabani, told AKnews that several names of candidates for the remaining ministries of her coalition were mentioned for the post, but none of them have yet been chosen, noting that the final candidates will be chosen within the coming days.

With the New Year, we may see a new country born through a referendum that will be held this weekend in Sudan. Today I'd like to share a word from Karak Mayik, my sister who heads Women for Women International's Sudan program and is everyday a hero striving for peace and prosperity in her homeland.

How will the outcome of the South Sudan referendum affect the prospects for women's participation and activism in the North and South?

While some countries like Liberia can boast that they have a female President, Kenya is still grappling with allowing women room to exercise their leadership roles in Parliament and at local government level.

GUATEMALA CITY, Dec 27, 2010 (IPS) - Guatemala, it seems, is trying out a new image. As of this month, women are at the helm of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Comptroller General's Office, winning their posts on merit, in what local activists are calling an important step in women's access to political power -- though "there is a long way to go."

After winning an International Award, Reseau des Femmes, a Women organisation, has finalised plans to expand its reach, with focus on rural women and economic empowerement, set to become a priority.

Beata Busasa, the association's national coordinator, revealed this, on Friday, during a ceremony to celebrate the award won in September.