Participation

AS the world marks International Women's Day tomorrow, a new guide aimed at providing policy-makers and advocates with ideas on how to promote more women in Pacific legislatures was launched in the Pacific.

The International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (iKNOW Politics) launched its website, iknowpolitics.org, in Indonesia on Thursday to provide a forum for women to learn about politics from other countries' experiences.

Creators said the website aimed to increase the participation and effectiveness of women in political life by stimulating dialogue, creating knowledge and sharing experiences.

SOLOMON Islands' first female to enter parliament Hilda Kari describes the introduction of women's political party as a step in the right direction for women.

Speaking during yesterday's media forum, Mrs Kari said such initiative and interest can bring women into the focus.

“Inorder for women to actively involve, they must introduce their political parties or join political parties.

“Leave the kitchen and cooking for a while, come out and involve” is a strong message to women from Solomon Islands first female Member of Parliament Hilda Kari.

She may have been little-known in political circles until now, but by putting herself forward as the first female independent presidential candidate, Luisete Macedo Araújo (50) has thrust herself into the limelight.

Araújo is the first Angolan woman to set her sights on the country's top job, held for the last 30 years by the same man, Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

Lebanese-born photographer Rania Matar, who currently lives in the United States, frequently travels back to her native country. On her last trip home in 2007, she documented the changing and striking ways in which Lebanese Muslim women are engaging in politics.

Angola's experience of gender participation in politics and decision making organs was praised at the meeting of the Network of Women MPs of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) held on June 14 and 15 in Sao Tome and Principe.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, where a Platform for Action was adopted by the United States and 188 other countries.

Three girls from the UNRWA School at Askar Camp in Nablus have made history by becoming the first Palestinians to win an award at the world's premier youth science competition. Aseel Abu Aleil, Aseel Alshaar and Noor Alarada were competing with 1500 finalists from around the world.

They picked up a "special award in applied electronics" at the Intel Science and Engineering Fair in San Jose, California.

Women's political participation in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia is to be enhanced under a new United Nations-backed project launched today for an innovative website to provide them access to information, the exchange of experiences, ideas and good practices.