Somalia

Nairobi — They have all the physical qualities of men but I don't think they deserve to be called men," says Kaha Mohamed Aden, with a strained smile.

"Particularly as all their rules are geared towards discriminating women." Kaha's anger is directed towards Muslim extremists, who now control Somalia.

The president of Somalia's Puntland government opened the country's first-ever international women's conference in the Puntland capital Garowe, where he praised the positive role of Somali women and encouraged women to take the lead in Somalia, Radio Garowe reports.

CITIZENSHIP is important as it is also an identity.

Emphasising the value of women's ctizenship, United Nations Human Rights adviser for gender and conflict Indai Sajor encouraged participants at a regional training on eliminating violence against women to expand women's citizenship, participation and leadership.

Hargeisa (Somalilandpress) – The first lady opened a national conference for the women at Ambassador Hotel. The conference was attended by 120 women from regions of Somaliland. The conference was organized by Nagaad Umbrella, which is an umbrella for Somaliland women organizations.

Since rival clans overthrew the government in Somalia in 1991, the country has been in the grip of a vicious civil war.

The anarchy has allowed various militia to emerge, none more feared than the religiously-motivated al-Shabaab, which now controls large areas of southern and central Somalia, as well as the capital Mogadishu.

GALKAYO, 30 September 2010 (IRIN) - Poor education among women and lack of access to health facilities in many rural areas of war-torn Somalia have increased risks surrounding child birth, according to health officials.

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 29 September 2010 – It is hard to think of a place where children are more at risk than Somalia.

At least 10 women have died in the district of Afgooye in the region of the Lower Shabelle of Somalia due to labour complications, Shabelle.net has reported.

Three of them were internally displaced persons running away from heavy clashes between insurgents and Somali government forces in the capital Mogadishu.

Sitting on the barren ground and waving away dust swirling around her, Khadija Abdi Hajji patiently waits for the metal gates to open.

Hajji, 62, is in a group of Somalis who have just entered Kenya to escape years of violence in their country.

Juba, Sudan – Developing the ability of women legislators to govern more effectively, especially with regards to addressing gender equality issues was the focus of a conference by the Women's Democracy Network (WDN) and IRI in partnership with the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.