WHRnet Archive

Gaza Activists Brace for Harder Times Under Hamas
Some women's activists in the Gaza Strip are nervously reopening centers for women and girls following civil war clashes. Others have stayed off the streets fearing a crackdown against them and their work by militant Hamas forces now in control. By Brenda Gazzar. Source: Women's News (June 21, 2007)

Elections Put Moroccan Women at Crossroads
Morocco passed landmark liberalizing reforms for women in 2000 but some secular activists fear they could be weakened in September by a change in Parliament. Second in two stories on the elections. By Leela Jacinto, WeNews correspondent. Source: Women's News (June 18, 2007)

Moroccan Women's Rights Wear Royal Robes
In Morocco, the king is viewed as a champion of women's rights, which means secular women's rights activists are often in the royalist political camp. First in two stories on the elections. By Leela Jacinto, WeNews correspondent. Source: Women's News (June 17, 2007)

G8: the aid gap
Tina Wallace goes behind the spin of the G8 leaders on aid and development in Africa and finds that their failing programmes exclude one of Africa's best resources of all – women. By Tina Wallace. Source: Open Democracy (June 5, 2007)

The Melting Point
As the Earth heads toward catastrophe, women leaders rise up to stop global warming. By Laura Orlando. Source: Ms. Magazine (Spring, 2007)

Women Put Their Mark on MidEast Peace Efforts
Women are pushing the envelope on peace activism in the Middle East, with a nearly 30-country annual bike ride for peace that was followed within a few days by the shooting of a Nobel Prize-winning Irish peace activist at a West Bank demonstration. By Brenda Gazzar. Source: Women's e-News (April 26, 2007)

Ban Ki-moon gives mixed response to Coherence Panel report
The United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-moon has issued his views on the report of the High-level Panel on UN System-Wide Coherence, which is presently the main document relating to the process of UN reform. By: Martin Khor. Source: Choike (April 16, 2007)

Turkish honour killings: A dishonourable practice
The killing of women by male relatives who believe they have dishonoured the family—eg, by getting pregnant outside wedlock or wearing revealing clothes—has haunted Turkey for centuries. By: Diyarbakir And Van. Source: The Economist (April 12, 2007)

Ending Gender Violence
Mexico's gender violence problem is perhaps most starkly apparent in the northern cities of Juarez and Chihuahua, where, according to Amnesty International, over 400 women have been disappeared or murdered since 1993. By Marissa Revilla. Source: The Press Institute for Women in the Developing World (March, 2007)

How Pink is the 'Pink Tide'? Feminist and LGBT Activists Challenge the Left
Many are speculating about the true colors of Latin America’s much-heralded “pink tide.” Just how close to socialist “red” are the region’s new left-leaning governments? By: Elisabeth Jay Friedman
Source: NACLA (March, 2007)

The UN reform... and women?
For over 80 years, the relationship between women and international organisations has barely existed in historical records and has been scarcely promoted by the media. Source: Choike (March 2007)

Iraqi Women--Four years after the Invasion
Despite incredibly difficult circumstances, Iraqi women have been at the forefront of trying to cope with and improve the exceedingly difficult living conditions and humanitarian crisis since 2003. By Dr. Nadje Al-Ali. Source: Foreign Policy in Focus (March 14, 2007)

Iran’s Quiet Revolution
A feminist magazine, a Nobelist, and a rising generation try to promote women’s equality. By Deborah Campbell. Source: Ms. Magazine (March, 2007)

India's missing girls
Daughters aren't wanted in India. So many female foetuses are illegally aborted that baby boys now hugely outnumber baby girls, while a government minister has begged parents to abandon their children rather than kill them.
Source: The Guardian (February 28, 2007)

Africa: Fast Tracking to Women's Equality
The AU Protocol on women's rights has breathed new life into the feminist movement in Africa and centralised the issue of women's rights on the continent. But Janah Ncube says African women cannot afford to be complacent if implementation of the protocol is to be achieved in the near future. Source: allAfrica.com (February 8, 2007)

Rwanda: The Impact of Women On Policy Formulation
On February 22, Rwanda will host an International Women Summit to cap commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Forum for Rwanda Women Parliamentarians. Eleneus Akanga looks at the role of women legislators and how their untiring efforts have proved successful to the cause of their fellow females and the over all policy development in the country.
Source: allAfrica.com (February 4, 2007)

Fiji Human Rights Commission
A response to the Fiji Human Rights Commission Director's report on the assumption of executive authority by commodore J V Bainimarama, Commander of the Republic of Fiji military forces (January 2007)

Pipeline Aid Projects Called Harmful to Women
Two oil pipelines in Russia and the Caucasus boosted prostitution and poverty according to a recent report. Authors hope the findings will heighten awareness of gender-related development needs at this weekend's World Social Forum in Kenya. By Bojana Stoparic. Source: Women's eNews (January 2007)

International Justice Failing Rape Victims
Despite significant strides in international law, many sexual violence crimes are going unpunished because of flawed investigations and prosecutions. By IWPR staff in The Hague, London and Sarajevo. Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting (January 2007)

Sex Trafficking Now a $16 Billion Business in Latin America
The trafficking of women and girls for purposes of sexual exploitation has become a $16-billion-a-year business in Latin America, according to figures from the International Organization for Migration. Source: WUNRN

Special Report on Poland: Exorcising the Past, Imperiling the Future — What's behind Poland's Conservative Turn?
Not long after one of the most conservative parties in Poland unexpectedly emerged from an election with enough legislative seats to form a right-wing coalition government, some like-minded Polish members of the European Parliament mounted an exhibition at a parliamentary building in Strasbourg. The show was called, innocently, “Life and Children in Europe,” but it was shocking. By Barbara Crossette. Source: Catholics for a Free Choice

'We are just watching things get worse'
When Britain and America went into Afghanistan in 2001, they claimed that the liberation of the country's burka-shrouded women was one of their top priorities. So did they deliver? Five years on, Natasha Walter visits Kabul - and is shocked by what she discovers. Source: The Guardian, (November 28, 2006)

The stigmatisation of sex workers
During the 16 days of activism campaign to end violence against women and children, some thought needs to be given to adult sex workers, who experience violence on a number of levels: from police, agency bosses, clients and on a domestic level like other women. By Nicole Fick. Source: Pambazuka News

Colombia’s Indigenous Nasa Women Resist
For the Nasa, everything they do is understood and described as a “proceso”—organizing is a proceso, governing is a proceso, the Indigenous Guard is a proceso, participation of women is a proceso. By Teo Ballvé for NACLA. Source: Upside Down World

Shan: Women Demand Immediate End to War Crimes in Burma
Position paper prepared by the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) for the Sixth Anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325. Source: Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)

Indian brides pay a high price
Violent dowry harassment is an increasingly visible phenomenon in India. An average of one dowry death is reported every 77 minutes according to the National Crime Record Bureau and victim support groups say complaints of dowry harassment are rising, fueled by a rising climate of consumerism. By Amelia Gentleman.
Source: International Herald Tribune

Undercurrents: An abortion of human rights
There was a time when you knew where you were with anti-abortion activists. They were the ones waving "Abortion is genocide" placards outside family planning clinics, wearing "Satan is pro-choice" T-shirts and vilifying abortion doctors and patients as "murderers". How have the terms of the debate shifted? By Kira Cochrane.
Source: New Statesman

Hidden victims of a brutal conflict: Iraq's women
Abduction, rape and murder are the punishments for any woman who dares to hold a professional job. A month-long investigation by The Observer reveals the terrible reality of life after Saddam. By Peter Beaumont.
Source: The Observer

Coming out in Arabic
Brian Whitaker reports on a lesbian group's struggle for acceptance in the Middle East. By Brian Whitaker.
Source: Guardian Unlimited

Indigenous feminism without apology
Native feminists are challenging conceptions of indigenous sovereignty, patriarchy within Native communities, and white supremacy and colonialism within mainstream white feminism. By Andrea Smith.
Source: The New Socialist

Leonard Doyle: 'The small advances women have made are now being wiped out'
Late last year the pupils of a rural Afghan girls school made a horrying discovery. The Taliban had hidden a landmine under a bag in their classroom. Their teacher was not completely surprised since a few weeks earlier the Taliban had left a threatening note in the village mosque ordering all girls schools to close. Source: The Independent

The Second Sex
This week, African Health Ministers and Experts meet in Maputo, Mozambique to adopt an action plan which will deliver on the 2005 Gaborone Declaration. The Declaration committed African governments to universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services in Africa. By Irungu Houghton. Source: Pambazuka News

Give women their rights - and raise a continent
African governments - run by men - let women's rights to education, healthcare, legal status, political representation and fair pay languish at the bottom of their list of priorities. Source: The Independent

From dawn to dusk, the daily struggle of Africa's women
Women work two-thirds of Africa's working hours, and produce 70 per cent of its food, yet earn only 10 per cent of its income, and own less than 1 per cent of its property. By Paul Vallely. Source: The Independent

The hopes and illusions of world trade liberalisation for women in Africa
Africa has faced ten years of unfettered liberalisation that has left the continent on its knees. Women, more than any other group, suffer the weight of the constraints of poverty largely brought about by the world trade system. It is women that must play a crucial role in winning the struggle for a better trading system. By Cheikh Tidiane Dièye. Source: Pambazuka News

Women’s Rights Big Priority for Ghanaian Judge
An insight into status of women in Africa believed to stand Judge Kuenyehia in good stead for her work at the court. By Katy Glassborow. Source: IWPR

War-torn Shangri-La: Danger at the roof of the world
Since 1996, when armed Maoist rebels declared a People’s War, more than 12,000 unnatural deaths have occurred in Nepal. Unreported deaths push the figure much higher. About one-fourth are estimated to be women, who have been killed by both Maoists and the Royal Nepal Army during the conflict. By Sushma Joshi.
Source: Ms. Magazine

Writing their own history
The ITPA (Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act) - conceived to protect the 'poor' 'innocent' women who are 'forced' into prostitution - has historically prosecuted this very community, due both to police brutality and judicial action based on real and imagined clauses in the ITPA. By Ponni Arasu.
Source: WFS

Ending Female Genital Mutilation?
Rights, medicalization, and the state of ongoing struggles to eliminate the FGM in Kenya. By Gemma Richardson. Source: The Dominion

Beatrice Were from the National Community of Women Living with AIDS in Uganda speaking on her HIV/AIDS as part of the Toronto AIDS conference (audio file)
Beatrice Were co-founded NACWOLA after she came out publically with her HIV status. Despite experiencing discrimination and stigma, she has remained active in fighting for the rights of those with HIV/AIDS. “My hope coming from Uganda, coming from Africa, being a mother living with HIV, is that we can realize universal access to treatment; that we can come out of this conference with that goal, and to see less of the rhetoric that has happened over the last few years.” Source: Human Rights Watch

U.S. Warrior Princesses Condi and Hillary
Condoleezza Rice refers to the unrelenting bombing in Lebanon as "the birth pangs" of a new democratic middle east. But these bombs create lasting damage and devastation, and are not fleeting pangs of any sort. And they birth nothing but rather kill, maim and destroy everything in their path. The only thing birthed here are new hatreds and horror. The war in Lebanon is a miscarriage of justice, a still-birth. Do not use the language of female bodies to camouflage this atrocious war. By Zillah Eisenstein (31 July 2006)

CRTD.A Fourth Statement on the Current Israeli Aggression against Lebanon
Since CRTD.A’s last update of 28 July, the security situation in Lebanon has continued to worsen. Displacement has continued with now almost one quarter of the civilian population displaced in IDP centres or with friends and family. The destruction of the country’s economy and infrastructure continues unabated. Carnage and massacres of innocent and unarmed civilians trapped in their homes and basements or attempting to flee on foot or by car are now frequent everyday events. Source: CRTD.A (11 August 2006)

CRTD.A Second Statement on the Current Israeli Aggression against Lebanon
More than 250 women, men and children (overwhelmingly civilians) have lost their lives. A number of casualties have also been reported amongst the Lebanese army who, for the record, has not aggressed Israel. Ironically, the Lebanese army is being pressured to take over the control of the Southern border! Source: CRTD.A (19 July 2006)

Lebanon under aggression
Since Wednesday 12 July, the Israeli army has launched a massive military operation against Lebanon and its people allegedly in response to the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hizbollah. Source: CRTD.A (17 July 2006)

Women’s Concerns and Spaces in the United Nations: What Does History Tell Us?
As the UN Reform process proceeds, poverty has grown rather than lessened in much of the developing world, and as AIDS spreads, it is becoming a “women’s disease”. These and many other pressing global issues are women’s concerns. In this context, women need more space, not less, and more influence in the UN. By Margaret Snyder. Source: womensciencenet.org (July 2006)

Activists rue world's gay rights record
A season of well-attended and peaceful Pride celebrations throughout Europe is in stark contrast to the grave human rights abuses suffered by gays and lesbians in many parts of the world, say gay and lesbian rights activists. Source: gaynz.com (2 July 2006)

STOP THE WTO TALKS AND BURY THE DOHA ROUND
More than 70 European NGOs demand a new approach to the multilateral trading system. Press release — cross posted from the WICEJ list (28 June 2006)

October 30, 2005
AWID Forum fourth day Plenary: How does change happen? A Wrap-up
'Eighteen hundred people, 120 plus countries, one question: How does change happen?' This statement came at the end of a short video presented at the beginning of the fourth and final plenary of the AWID Forum, where six panelists extracted the main ideas about change that they had gathered from the various discussions going on at the Forum.

October 29, 2005
AWID Forum third day Plenary: How should we change?
Saturday's Plenary Session began with an excellent performance by PRIMADONNA, a troupe of Malaysian transsexual, transgender and ...MSM individuals. Through their music and dance presentation they expressed their conviction that everyone should be allowed to have a lifestyle of their choice. The performance drew huge applause from the audience.

October 28, 2005
AWID Forum second day Plenary: What is the change around us?
The theme of Friday's Plenary Session was "What is the Change Around Us?" The session began with a video produced by AWID entitled "Three Moves Deep: Planning for the Future of Women's Human Rights," which highlights several issues that will affect the future of the world and women's rights in particular; fundamentalisms, new technologies, global power, climate changes and economic inequalities.

October 27, 2005
AWID Forum first day Plenary: What have we changed and how?
The first day of the Tenth AWID International Forum began with the welcome Plenary Session, focused around the theme of "What Have We Changed Now? (and why are we here?)." The President of AWID, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, welcomed 1600 men and women from all over the world, and it was clearly a moment where everyone seated in the Grand Ballroom of the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, was feeling the energy and anticipation of an incredible event.

In solidarity with those affected by the South Asian Earthquake
AWID is deeply saddened by the effects of the 9 October earthquake in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India that has reportedly killed over forty thousand people, and injured many more. People in the affected region are still at risk from hunger and cold. (October 2005)

The UN World Summit, 14-16 September, 2005
The largest ever summit of world leaders commenced on 14th September 2005 in New York, gathering the world's most powerful leaders from 191 countries. (September 2005)

Katrina and her Gendering of Class and Race
By Zillah Eisenstein
Katrina is as much a political disaster defined by racism, sexism and class privilege, as it is a natural one. (September 2005)

Awareness of gender issues in emergencies should go beyond the traditional concern with women and children:
AWID urges: Consider women's needs in New Orleans rescue efforts
By Jane Connolly, AWID
All at AWID extend deepest sympathies to those affected by Hurricane Katrina in the southern United States. While we are behind those involved in the relief effort, we are deeply concerned that women’s particular needs are neither being taken into account, nor are they receiving useful representation in the media or on the web. (September 2005)

URGENT UPDATE ON THE IRAQ CONSTITUTION
New deadline to finalize the constitution is 22 August, 2005
By WHRnet Staff
We have small margin of time in which to continue our efforts to ensure a positive outcome for women's rights in the new Iraqi constitution. Please join us in extending your support to Iraqi women and lobbying both your politicians and Iraqi parliamentarians. (August 2005)

The Court and Gender Decoys - What's a Woman Anyway?
By Zillah Eisenstein
The very idea of 'woman' as an identifiable identity—one which resonates with a shared sexual status that is not completely individual in nature--derives from the idea of feminism itself. Recognizing this identifiable category is central to a feminist construction of democracy. Instead, today, gender stands in more and more as a decoy for democracy.

The speculations around the recent appointment to the US supreme court give us pause to reflect on what it actually means to be a 'woman' in this dialogue. (August 2005)

In Larger Freedom? Comments on the Report of the Secretary-General of the UN
By Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
At a time when bureaucratization and inefficiency, together with many Member States’ lack of political will, has weakened the United Nations to such an extent that it has not been able to respond to current global challenges a reform of the UN is both imminent and imperative. This article examines some of the shortcomings and possibilities of the proposed UN reforms in the UN Secretary General's report "In Larger Freedom" in order to understand its scope and potential for protecting and promoting women’s rights. (July 2005)

A Dangerous mix: Religion & Development Aid
By Eman Ahmed, WHRnet
Should faith-based organizations be allowed to proselytize while providing development and humanitarian aid? There is a storm of controversy surrounding groups that skirt the acceptable codes of conduct for organizations providing aid. (July 2005)

Peruvian Women Denounce Economic Social Cultural Rights (ESCR) Violations
By Gabriela de Cicco, AWID
On June 2, 2005 in Lima, Peru, the first Ethical Political Tribunal will be held to report violations to the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) of Peruvian women perpetrated by the state and the private sector. Women will not only report violations but also demand restitution and compensation. (May 2005)

Sexism in the World Social Forum
Is Another World Possible?
Ana Elena Obando
The violence against women in the Youth Camp of the World Social Forum (WSF) is a stark reminder that Forum's exclusion or failure to include a gendered perspective, is not only detrimental politically to social movement building, but it has real and harmful effects on women, personally. (February 2005)

Faith AND Feminists at the WSF
WHRnet Staff
The gathering of over 150,000 activists from 135 countries, from feminists to environmentalists, from UN Special rapporteurs to student activists, for those of us who experienced this year's World Social Forum, is put simply, inspiring. (February 2005)

December 26 Reflections
Tania Principe
In Ukraine, a nation of 48 million people, a nation over 1000 years old, people may have exercised their right to vote for a president -freely and fairly- for the first time on December 26th, 2004. (January 2005)

Whose money? Whose voices?
Tania Principe ponders whether the promised aid for tsunami relief will be taken away from existing projects and whether the world is listening to those worst affected. (January 2005)

The CEDAW Committee: A Space for Our Rights
Ana Elena Obando
The committee that monitors the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW or the Women's Convention), has two new feminist experts from the international women's movement, Shanti Dariam and Silvia Pimentel. (December 2004)

Women and Rwanda’s Genocide: What Goes Unsaid
Françoise Nduwimana
Genocide, rape, and HIV infection have condemned these women to certain death. We call them "survivors," when in fact their deaths are merely delayed. (December 2004)

Canadian Colonialism continues
The Canadian court is helping the people of Kanesatake choose their leader. In fact the court has defied the Kanesatake community and reinstated the leader that they voted out.

Masculinity, Peace Processes, Impunity and Justice
Ana Elena Obando
This month's special issue focuses on masculinity as the root of public and private conflicts, the importance of creating a culture of peace and human rights for sustainable development, women's right to participate in peace processes, the fight against legal and political impunity, and the right to justice, truth and accountability. (November 2004)

The Principle of Accountability, by Donna J. Sullivan
The demand for accountability runs through the broad spectrum of women's human rights advocacy - from organizing against violence, degradation of the environment or militarization, to promoting alternatives to free market distortions of the global economy. In each context, women have sought to identify accountability mechanisms that respond to the specificities of their past experiences and guard against future abuses. These efforts have catalyzed and, in many instances, guided institutional and procedural reforms, as well as changes in the substantive content of the law. (September 2004)

'W' Stands for War and World Domination, by Prof. Zillah Eisenstein
How can 'W' stand for, or on behalf of women when the Republican Party thinks that the best way to put someone down is to call them a girlie man? The masculinist stance of the Republican Party is at an all time arrogant high. As soon as John Edwards was picked as the vice-presidential candidate Bush quickly responded: I didn't pick my Vice President because he's a pretty face, but because he can do the job. The subtext here: we don't need a pretty face-like a woman-- who can't get the job done. (September 2004)

Human Rights and Unpaid Care Giving, by Dr. Marilyn Waring
This special feature raises a number of questions about the access to rights of those who work full time in the unpaid care of others. The absence of rights has been of the utmost concern to unpaid workers around the world- most of whom are women. The key impediment to the recognition of these rights has been the restrictive use of the word "work" and "worker" as those who are paid in work in international human rights texts. (August 2004)

The International Criminal Court: An Opportunity for Women, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently began its first formal investigation to judge crimes committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is urgent that the women's movement monitor whether the ICC effectively investigates and sanctions the perpetrators of sexual and gender crimes committed against women. Sexual violence as a weapon of war can no longer go unnoticed. This special issue addresses key aspects of the ICC, such as gender crimes and related case law, gender-sensitive proceedings and the possible implications of implementing international standards nationally to advance women's human rights. (August 2004)

Special Feature! Sexual Humiliation, Gender Confusion and the Horrors at Abu Ghraib, by Zillah Eisenstein
The New York Times reports that there have been new releases of prisoners formerly held at Abu Ghraib. The photo shows a young man, age 17, being embraced by his mother and sisters. His body completely slumps into their protective arms. He is two years younger than my daughter. I am heartsick wondering if he will ever recover from his horror. (July 2004)

States and Corporations: Legal Responsibilities to the People, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
This month's issue offers a special report on the legal, civil and criminal responsibilities of states and corporations to the people for the violation of their human rights. It explains the international legal framework and the mechanisms available that may be used to hold corporations accountable. Finally, it mentions opportunities for and limitations to advancing an agenda for women through these mechanisms. (June 2004)

Sexual Rights and the Commission on Human Rights, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
This month's issue reviews the various resolutions recently approved at the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Ana Elena followed the CHR process first hand and recounts below the highlights of the resolution on sexual orientation, resolutions related to sexual and reproductive rights, and racial discrimination. (May 2004)

Marriage and its Meanings, by Donna Sullivan, WHRnet
Reform of marriage laws and transformation of the institution of marriage have long been staples of feminist activism around the world. The political and legal firestorm over marriage now sweeping the United States offers an opportunity to explore the political role of religion in a formally secular society and the role of marriage as a vehicle for religious beliefs about gender. This overview of current developments in the U.S. highlights the links between privatization of social services, the expanded role of religion in public policy, and attacks on the independence of the judiciary as a guardian of secular human rights guarantees. It also suggests that efforts to understand and effect change in the meanings of marriage will be strengthened by taking into account its full social, legal, economic, political and religious dimensions. (March 2004)

How Effective is a Human Rights framework in addressing Gender-based Violence?, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
This month's theme explores the use of the human rights framework and its significance for gender-based violence. It cites the various international legal and political advances made possible through the use of this framework, its strengths and limitations as well as the challenges the women's movements face in opening up a new cycle of strategies, visions and paradigms. (February 2004)

The Optional Protocol to CEDAW & its applicability "on the ground", by Donna Sullivan, WHRnet
Women are all too familiar with the limitations of national courts as a means of securing their rights. Can an international procedure, which is even more removed from local realities, be of practical use to women? (January 2004)

Social Corporate Responsibility and the Role of the Women's Movement, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
This month's theme explores the diversity of legal and extralegal mechanisms of social corporate responsibility (SCR) as well as the opportunities and challenges that these mechanisms represent for the exercise and improvement of women's rights. Also discussed are the major international instruments and mechanisms and selected facts that demonstrate the impact of the global market place on women. (January 2004)

Women and the Millennium Development Goals, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
This is a special issue on the Millennium Development Goals, the main critiques by the international women's movement, as well as the challenges and opportunities that the MDGs present for the advancement of women's rights already achieved in the Conferences of the nineties. It also cites the main international instruments related to the MDGs and includes some facts that alert us to the types of measures needed. (November 2003)

Women and Water Privatization, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
The issue this month explores the right to water and the different violations that occur to the social, economic, cultural, civil and political rights of women when this resource is privatized. The main human rights mechanisms and international instruments that relate to this issue are also mentioned as well as some data, which alert us to the world-wide crisis of this resource. (November 2003)

Women and Media: Progress and Issues, by Carolina Rodriguez Bello, WHRnet
The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China propelled international concern and action on the role of media in perpetuating women's subordination as well its importance in advancing women's rights. (October 2003)

Women and the FTAA, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
This month’s topic brings us a special issue on the FTAA and its serious consequences for the sovereignty of nations and for people’s rights, particularly women’s social, economic and cultural rights. It also highlights the main international mechanisms and instruments which are violated by WTO trade agreements, as well as some data that alert us to the their effects. (October 2003)

Freedom of Association, by Carolina Rodriguez Bello, WHRnet
The right to freedom of association involves the right to join, form, and withdraw membership from groups, associations and partnerships of different kinds. It requires the non-interference of the state in the formation and in the affairs of associations that function within the scope of law. It also requires the assistance of the state in creating and maintaining an environment that is conducive to the exercise the right to free association. (October 2003)

Freedom of Expression, by Carolina Rodriguez Bello, WHRnet
This overview explores the achievements brought about by women exercising freedom of expression as a form of resistance. It addresses the role of women activists, writers and artists who face persecution by state or by private actors in all spheres of society and explores relevant international human rights mechanisms. (September 2003)

Women and AIDS, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
Our monthly theme discusses the consequences of women´s invisibility as risky population during the first decade of this epidemic. It describes women´s different situations and difficulties to have access to admission, education, information or adequate health assistance, as well as the inefficient policies of the governments to deal with the problem. We present global statistics and the main international mechanisms and instruments related to this subject. (September 2003)

Migrant Sex Workers, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
Neo-liberalism with its focus on freemarket economics is eroding traditional labor structures and livelihoods. Impoverished women and children, especially in the Global South are particularly vulnerable to the excesses of such global capitalist forces.... However, it is important to analyze issues affecting sex workers in ways that go beyond the traditional discourse on prostitution, trafficking and migration, which tend simply to stigmatize women as victims.... (August 2003)

Refugees and Internally Displaced, by Carolina Rodriguez Bello, WHRnet
This overview reviews issues faced by refugees and internally displaced populations, and focuses on women as particularly vulnerable to gender-based discrimination and violence. International human rights laws and mechanisms designed to address the problem are also discussed. (July 2003)

The Right to Work, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
This theme focuses on the discrimination women face in their places of work. It discusses international mechanisms and instruments and provides statistics related to the issue. (July 2003)

Migrant Women, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
This article summarizes the many problems migrant women face, including legal problems encountered at the international level. It provides latest statistics on women and migration, and discusses relevant international instruments and mechanisms. (June 2003)

The Right to Peace, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
On February 15th 2003, over 30 million people demonstrated in 600 cities against the planned USA-UK led war against Iraq and to defend the right to peace. Peace preservation is the main objective of the United Nations as well as of many men and women worldwide. This right is so important.... (May 2003)

Violence against Women, revised and updated by Niamh Reilly, WHRnet
This provides an overview of key concepts, definitions and policy developments that have emerged over the last decade in the struggle to ensure that violence against women is recognized as a global human rights concern. (April 2003)

Sexual and Reproductive Rights, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet
This article presents an updated overview of the gains and challenges in the struggle for women's sexual and reproductive rights in the international policy arena. It also discusses international instruments within the United Nations system and Inter-American System, and presents latest facts and figures on women's health and reproductive rights. (March 2003)

Civil and Political Rights, by Niamh Reilly, WHRnet
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) combines civil, political, social and economic rights in one standard-setting document. Subsequent human rights treaties reflect.... (March 2003)

War and Armed Conflicts, revised and updated by Niamh Reilly, WHRnet
There are more than thirty undeclared wars and internal conflicts taking place in the world at present. The impact of this situation on women.... (February 2003)

Costa Rica's Peaceful Environment Has Not Occurred by Chance
The pending US elections may result in changes that could affect our country very profoundly, with very negative effects. By María Suárez Toro. Source: The WIP (June 26, 2007)

Independence: Kenya's and My Own
When looking for positive signs of Africa's social and economic development, it may be instructive to look at the evolving role of women there. From traditionally subservient roles as supporters of their husbands and families, African women — such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, who writes here in her autobiography — are stepping into prominent roles of leadership to help Africa grow and develop. By Wangari Maathai. Source: The Globalist (June 18, 2007)

Parvin Ardalan Women’s Movement into the Streets
This was a year, in which many of the forces from the student movement and the labor unions joined hands with the women’s movement in a show of solidarity and faced serious consequences including getting beaten up, and facing detention. By Parvin Ardalan. Source: weforchange (29 May 2007)

Debating Legalized Prostitution
Two scholars debate whether or not to legalize prostitution. Professor Janice Raymond is the co-executive director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, the author of 5 books, and Professor Emerita at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dr. Melissa Ditmore was the principal investigator for Revolving Door, the first report released by the Sex Workers Project, and is currently a research consultant for the organization. Source: Post Global (June, 2007)

Black Women and Violence: 'Bad' Alone Doesn't Work
After seeing herself partially quoted by Women's eNews, Tonya Lovelace realized that the word "bad"--on its own--deserves the discussion of black women and domestic violence. Here's her longer version, with the word in its full context. Source: Women's eNews (11 April 2007)

The Fragility of Darfur
Excerpt from Sima Samar's speech to the U.N. General Assembly about her recommendations for improving human rights in Sudan. Source: Ms. Magazine (27 April 2007)

Eva Herman Germany's Neo-Housewives Spark Debate on Gender Roles
A new wave of anti-feminism is taking hold of Germany. Former career women-turned-housewives are spreading the word about a "new femininity" which encourages women to stay at home and embrace motherhood. By Khuê Pham. Source: Spiegel Online (15 March 2007)

Forgotten women
Is Britney Spears' shaved head or celebrities not wearing underwear more important than the fate of half the world's population?. By Isabel Hilton.
Source: guardian.co.uk (March 2007)

Microcredit? Spare Us the Praise for a Panacea
The White House, the Nobel Prize Committee and many development agencies celebrate microcredit as a boon to women struggling to survive. Economists Susan Feiner and Drucilla Barker dissent, saying it distracts from wage and work reforms. Source: Women's e-News (14 March 2007)

Robert Jensen A Call for an Open Discussion of Mass-Marketed Pornography
The fear of anything resembling censorship prevents us from confronting what pornography tells us about the cruelty of our culture, and the white supremacy and misogyny that abounds in America. By Robert Jensen. Source: AlterNet (10 February 2007)

Not the Same as Being Equal: Women in Afghanistan
Ann Jones shares her experience in post-Taliban rule Afghanistan, focusing on women’s issues from a feminist perspective. By Ann Jones. Source: Middle East online (5 February 2007)

War Through a Feminist Lens
An African scholar reflects on a U.S. gathering to confront militarism. By Patricia McFadden. Source: Ms. Magazine (February 2007)

Why Fixing the Media System Should Be on the Feminist Agenda
If we truly care about women's rights and social justice, we must simply roll up our sleeves and tackle corporate media's failings, while strengthening independent media. By Jennifer Pozner. Source: alternet.org (11 January 2007)

Is another world possible without the women’s perspective?
The World Social Forum must represent the best of the new world not the patriarchal worst of the old. By Patricia Daniel. Source: Open Democracy (18 January 2007)

The New ‘Smarties’ of the World Bank: Competitive women
"Forget China, India and the internet: economic growth is driven by women." Under this quote from "The Economist", the World Bank presents its new gender action plan for the fiscal year 2007-10 and thereby anticipates the key objective of its women and gender policy: growth. The political message for women is: we will improve market opportunities so that you, women, can compete efficiently. A critique by Christa Wichterich. Source: WIDE (December 2006)

Mariela Castro As Castro fades, a crop of new leaders
Interviews with two younger political figures suggest a gradual opening both economically and socially. By Tom Fawthrop. Source: The Christian Science Monitor (27 December 2006)

Nayereh Tohidi Iran’s Women’s Rights Movement and the One Million Signatures Campaign
In the midst of all the horrible and worrisome news of violence, war and massacres coming from the Middle East these days, it is news about women whose humane creativity, civic movements, and life-promoting and peace-seeking activities that bring hope for the future of this bloody and turbulent region. One example is the news of the Palestinian, Israeli and Lebanese women who have come together to promote dialogue and negotiation in an effort to end the prolonged wars and conflicts by finding a just and practical solution. By Nayereh Tohidi. Source: we-change.org (12 December 2006)

Abstaining from Greed and Dogma: The AIDS Policy We Should Call for in 2007
A whole generation into the AIDS pandemic, we now have significant (though still insufficient) knowledge of how to combat the disease. But while the world's collective understanding is gradually advancing, US AIDS policy remains mired in a right-wing economic and social vision that is curtailing progress and costing lives. Source: WICEJ (December 1, 2006 — World AIDS Day)

Behind closed doors
NO one speaks of it. Women suffer it in silence. They are schooled to believe that ultimately it is their fault. Behind the closed doors of many a home, women are abused, physically, emotionally, verbally. By Kalpana Sharma. Source: The Hindu

Gendering the WSF 2007 Process
Despite making some progress towards developing an inclusive process for women within the World Social Forum (WSF) movement, profound problems remain that are likely to manifest themselves in the lead up to the WSF meeting in Nairobi in 2007, says Onyango Oloo (National Coordinator for Kenya Social Forum), in this paper presented at a public forum on May 25, 2006 on “Gendering the WSF Process”. Source: wsf2007.org

Bob Herbert Why Aren’t We Shocked?
In the recent shootings at an Amish schoolhouse in rural Pennsylvania and a large public high school in Colorado, the killers deliberately attacked only the girls. Imagine if a gunman had gone into a school, separated the kids up on the basis of race or religion, and then shot only the black kids. Or only the white kids. Or only the Jews. By Bob Herbert. Source: MADRE (October 16, 2006)

Hillary's War
Is Hillary Clinton the best candidate that liberals and progressives are going to get in the next US election? By Zillah Eisenstein.

UN Needs Woman Chief to Clean It Up
Why not put up a distinguished woman as secretary-general of the United Nations and see if she can avoid all the macho mischief men have excelled at for so many centuries?. By Georgie Anne Geyer. Source: Global Policy Forum (September 24, 2006)

Time for a Woman at the U.N.
Kofi Annan says the world is ready for a female secretary general. So why are there only men on the short list of candidates to succeed him?. By Jessica Neuwirth.
Source: AlterNet (September 12, 2006)

Queen Noor of Jordan Queen Noor on Clashing Civilizations
Do the cultural differences between the West and the Islamic world really matter? Public figures on either side of this so-called "clash of civilizations" have embraced these differences. In contrast, Jordan's Queen Noor argues that the real clash, pitting the forces of understanding against those of intolerance, exists not between civilizations — but within each civilization. By Queen Noor of Jordan.
Source: The Globalist (August 14, 2006)

Ann Jones Why It's Not Working in Afghanistan
In August 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was already proclaiming the new Afghanistan "a breathtaking accomplishment" and "a successful model of what could happen to Iraq." As everybody now knows, the model isn't working in Iraq. So we shouldn't be surprised to learn that it's not working in Afghanistan either. By Ann Jones.
Source: Alarab online (August 28, 2006)

Remarks by Stephen Lewis
UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, to the Closing Session of the XVI International AIDS Conference, Toronto, Canada (August 18, 2006)

Collapse of the WTO Doha negotiations: Turning point for developing a multilateral trading system based on women's rights and sustainable development
The indefinite suspension of the WTO Doha negotiations offers a unique opportunity to review and reconsider the multilateral trading system as a whole, and to start with a new approach to a global trading system that will promote social and gender justice, women's empowerment and environmental sustainability. Source: WIDE. (July 25, 2006)

Abortion Is a Basic Human Right
Amnesty International is in the midst of considering whether to include access to abortion in the list of rights that it supports. Many other organizations and individuals have long made the case that access to safe abortion services is a basic human right, one that saves thousands of women's lives and protects the health of many, many more. Carmen Angélina Valenzuela. Source: AlterNet. (July 11, 2006)

The height of humiliation
Threatened, abused, raped and tortured: such is the fate of untold numbers of Iraqi women amid the barbarous practices of the occupation. Haifa Zangana examines the plight of Iraq's female security detainees. Source: Middle East Online. (June 26, 2006)

The New Human Rights Council
There is no doubt at all that the newly established United Nations Human Rights Council is an improvement upon the UN Human Rights Commission which it replaces. By Dr. Chandra Muzaffar. Source: International Movement for a Just World (JUST). (March 21, 2006)

At Large : Is the UN ready for a woman?
Following the practice of “regional rotation” in the choice of secretary general of the United Nations, it’s now supposedly Asia’s “turn” to have a representative chosen as head of the global body, to take the place of Kofi Annan. But no one, apparently, has given much thought that it might also be a woman’s turn. By Rina Jimenez-David, Source: Other News. (April 12, 2006)

Real hopes for Afghanistan
After monitoring September's elections in Afghanistan, Emma Bonino remains hopeful about the country's future, if women can share in it as equal partners. (November 2005)

The birth of gender vision (part 1)
Cedaw is an ambitious convention on gender equality that emerged when the UN addressed 'the woman question'. Susanne Zwingel tells the story of an unlikely driving force for social change. (November 2005)

CEDAW: the women formula (part 2)
An international instrument is an unlikely driving force for domestic social change. But change has taken place – and continues. Susanne Zwingel draws important lessons for women’s human rights. (November 2005)

Women Could be Big Winners if G8 Comes Through on its Commitments, But Current Deal Falls Short of Potential
Women, who form the vast majority of the 1.2 billion poorest people who live on less than $1 a day, could be the biggest winners if the Group of 8 Nations (G8) come through with their recent commitments. (August 2005)

On criminal silences
By Firoze Manji and Patrick Burnett
The media is replete with images from Niger of dying children grappling with emaciated breasts that have long dried from starvation. (August 2005)

Home-grown rights instruments: Supporting the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa
By Gladys Mutukwa
Gladys Mutukwa explains the international and regional mechanisms available for the protection of women's rights. States cannot show a commitment at one level and act differently at another, she argues. (August 2005)

Bringing Charles Taylor to Book
By Kathambi Kinoti, AWID
A review of the campaign to have the former Liberian President face trial on accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Sierra Leone's internal armed conflict. (July 2005)

Feminism in Kuwait: A report on the struggle for women's political participation
By Rochelle Jones, AWID (July 2005)

Reparation for Victims of Violations of the Fundamental Norms of International Law
Amélie Guilbault (December 2004)

Women Included! Why Women Must Also Shape and Guide our World
A Speech by Shirin Ebadi, the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. (December 2004)

Kanehsatake Mohawk Warriors face Canadian-style colonialism, by Justin Podur (November 2004)

Arab Voices on Abu Ghraib, from War Times (Summer 2004)

What Abu Ghraib Taught Me, by Barbara Ehrenreich, the author of Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. (May 2004)

Ann Pellegrini, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Performance Studies at New York University in the United States, co-author of Love the Sin: Sexual Regulation and the Limits of Religious Tolerance. (March 2004)

Lynda Yanz, founding member and coordinator of the Maquila Solidarity Network. (January 2004)

Paquita Cruz, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet (November 2003)

Women Organizing in the Malaysian Socio-cultural and Political Environment, by Cecilia Ng, Director, Women’s Development Collective (WDC) (October 2003)

Me and My Hijab: Reflections on the Veil, by Samira Ali Gutoc, Young Moro Professional Network (YMPN), Philippines (September 2003)

Women, AIDS, and Human Rights (Yolanda Girola), by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet (September 2003)

The Other Face of Migration: A Profile of Roxana Nagygeller, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet (June 2003)

Women and LGBT Rights at the 60th CHR Session, by Erica Bélanger (April 2003)

Taking Action to (Em)body the Law: A Profile of Luisa Cabal, by Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet (March 2003)

Globalization and Feminism by Alda Facio, Costa Rican writer and lawyer (February 2003)

A Women’s Human Rights Perspective on War and Conflict by Sunila Abeyesekera, Director of Inform, the Sri Lankan human rights organisation (February 2003)

Rebuilding the Women’s Movement, Defining a New World by María Suarez Toro, feminist, teacher, women's human rights activist, journalist, and producer and co-director of FIRE -- Feminist International Radio Endeavor (December 2002)

Ensuring Peace through Justice by Elizabeth Odio Benito, former vice president of the Republic of Costa Rica and former judge (August 2002)

Seizing the Opportunity to Secure Women's Human Rights by Isha Dyfan, Program Director for the New Human Rights and Peace Building Initiative, International Women's Tribune Centre (IWTC), New York (July 2002)

The Worldwide Resistance of Women to Neoliberalism by Joëlle Palmieri, cofounder of Les Pénélopes and the Association for the Promotion of the Social and Solidarity Economy (APRESS), Paris (June 2002)

United Nations Special Session on Children - Anything but Child's Play by Katherine McDonald, Executive Director, Action Canada for Population and Development/Action Canada pour la population et le développement (ACPD) (June 2002)

The Hard Path to Equality by Aster Zaoude, Senior Gender Adviser at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) New York (from Choices Magazine, UNDP, March 2002) (May 2002)

Planting Seeds of Change by Roxanna Carrillo, Special Advisor on Violence Against Women, UNIFEM (April 2002)

The WCAR in the Post-September 11 World Order by Ana Elena Obando of CIMA: Interamerican Concertation of Women’s Human Rights Activists (Costa Rica) (October 2001)

International Women’s Day: an interview with Purnima Mane
Purnima is a renowned social scientist and an expert in gender issues in international health, especially in AIDS. Source: UNAIDS (March, 2007)

Debunking Bush Administration Bull About Afghanistan
Human rights advocate Sima Samar gives a from-the-field perspective on the daily lives of men and women in Afghanistan since 2001. By Katherine Spillar, Ms. Magazine. Source: AlterNet (March 28, 2007)

Sunila Abeysekera What Next for the Moroccan Campaign?: Interview with Rabéa Naciri, President of ADFM
The Moroccan Government recently introduced a new bill to reform the Nationality Code for Moroccan women and children. The proposed bill is coming up for vote in the Parliament this month. By Rabéa Naciri, WLP. (February, 2007)

Afghanistan, Then and Now
An Interview with Anne Brodsky, author of the book With All Our Strength, which chronicles the experiences of Afghan women. By Shahram Vahdany from American Chronicle. (October 2006)

Impunity for Women's Human Rights Violations in Sri Lanka: An Interview with Sunila Abeysekera
Sunila Abeysekera is the Executive Director of INFORM, a Sri Lankan Human Rights Documentation Center that works on human rights in conflict and war situations. By Johanna Howes, AWID Intern. (October 13, 2006)

U.S. Urged To Change Course in War: An Interview with Mary Robinson
In the week that President Bush admitted to secret CIA prisons and linked Bin Laden to Hitler, the former U.N. Human Right Commissioner, Mary Robinson called on the administration to change its course in the so-called 'war on terror.' By Maria Hinojosa from NOW. (September 8, 2006)

"I Will Fight as Long as I'm Alive": An Interview with Iranian activist Shirin Ebadi
In early August, Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi learned through the press that her human rights center in Tehran had been declared illegal. She speaks about an Iranian government breaking its own laws and activism in the face of prison -- or worse. By Cameron Abadi from SPIEGEL ONLINE. (August 2006)

Confronting Gender After Katrina
An Interview with Shana Griffin, resident of New Orleans and organizer with INCITE: Women of Color Against Violence and Critical Resistance New Orleans. By Elena Everett from Dissident Voice. (August 29, 2006)

The Unfolding of a Humanitarian Crises in Lebanon
An Interview with Lina Abou-Habib, Director of the Collective for Research and Training on Development-Action (CRTD-A). By Shareen Gokal from AWID/WHRnet. (August 2006)

"Receiving countries should rely more upon women migrants if they wish to introduce changes in their integration policies": An interview with Ms. Ndioro Ndiaye
One out of two migrant is a woman. Increasingly present and increasingly visible, women who live and work away from their countries of origin send billions of dollars to their relatives - often more frequently than men. By Laurent Duvillier from INSTRAW. (May 2006)

For Rights to Have a Real Impact in Women's Lives: An interview with Mónica Roa
May 10, 2006 will forever be remembered in sexual and reproductive rights history in Colombia and our region as the date the Constitutional Court of Colombia ruled on the constitutionality of D 6122, establishing that the voluntary termination of a pregnancy is not a crime when a woman's life is in danger, the fetus has malformations incompatible with life outside the womb or the pregnancy is the result of rape. By Gabriela De Cicco from AWID. (May 2006)

Interview with head of UNIFEM's Arab states office, Dr Haifa Abu Ghazaleh
Gender inequality is generally recognised as being one of the main obstacles to development in the Arab world. Source: IRIN News (March 2006)

An interview with Yanar Mohammed
Yanar Mohammed is known to be one of the most outspoken activists in Iraq, defending women's rights without any compromise for religion or tradition. She is the president of Organization of Women's Freedom (OWFI) which she founded in Baghdad immediately after the US invasion of Iraq. By Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet (February 2006)

Terry McGvern "Victim" led demands for accountability and justice: The Models of Resistance Project
An Interview with Terry McGovern, a women's health and human rights advocate and the founder of the Models of Resistance Project. By Shareen Gokal, WHRnet (January 2006)

What does Michelle Bachelet's Victory Signify for Women's Rights?
An interview with Alejandra Bravo, a Chilean activist in the Latin American community in Toronto, on the significance of the election of Michelle Bachelet in Chile. This interview was done by the Canadian Broadcasting Commission's radio host Andy Barrie and transcribed for WHRnet by Tamar Heisler. (January 2006)

An Interview with Yakin Ertürk
a sociology professor at the Middle East Technical University in the Turkish capital, Ankara, was appointed United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women. Source: IRIN News. (November 2005)

An Interview with Rebecca Gomperts from Women on Waves
Every 6 minutes somewhere in the world a woman dies needless as a result of illegal, unsafe abortion. In response to this violation of women's human rights and medical need, Women on Waves operates a mobile clinic on a ship that sails to countries where abortion is illegal. Ana Elena Obando, WHRnet. (November 2005)

The Global Consultation on the Ratification and Use of the Optional Protocol to CEDAW
An interview with Janine Moussa, Programme Officer, International Women's Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW Asia Pacific), WHRnet. (October 2005)

Women's Human Rights in Pakistan-What has changed and how?
An interview with Asma Jehangir, Human Rights activist, Chairperson, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). Eman Ahmed, WHRnet. (September 2005)

An Interview with Celia Martinez of the Worker-Controlled Brukman Textile Factory in Buenos Aires
By Benjamin Dangl, (August 2005)

Lydia Alpizar Women at the UN General Assembly Interactive Hearings: A participant’s perspective
An interview with Lydia Alpízar from AWID, who attended the UNGA Interactive Hearings at the end of June 2005 and discusses here the implications for women’s advocacy as well as giving insights into the efficacy of the process. (August 2005)

In Larger Freedom? Report of the Secretary General of the UN
Do the proposed UN reforms really further women's rights? Parvina Nadjibulla, the representative of the United Methodist Church to the UN and a member of the NGO working group in women, peace and security takes a critical look. (July 2005)

Challenging abortion law in Colombia
An interview with Monica Roa, director of the Gender Justice Program at Women's Link Worldwide and the attorney that filed the case in Colombia. (July 2005)

What is the International Campaign on Women Human Rights Defenders about?
Mary Jane N. Real is the Women Human Rights Defenders' International Coordinating Committee (WHRD-ICC) Coordinator. (May 2005)

Special B+10 issue!
Dinah Radtke is the Vice Chair of Disabled Peoples International (DPI - www.dpi.org) and the chair of the DPI Women's Committee. Disabled Peoples' International is a network of national organizations or assemblies of disabled people, established to promote human rights of disabled people through full participation, equalization of opportunity and development. (March 2005)

Ticiana Studart (February 2005)

Olena Suslova (January 2005)

Godeliève Mukasarasi (December 2004)

Binaifer Nowrojee is a lawyer, researcher at Human Rights Watch, Lecturer at Harvard Law School and member of The Coalition for Women’s Human Rights in Conflict Situations. (December 2004)

Shanti Dairiam has focused her professional and community work on the promotion of women’s rights in a variety of contexts. She has undertaken collaborative projects with women’s NGOs, governments and international institutions that aim to contribute to the effective implementation of international human rights standards for the advancement of women. (December 2004)

Alda Facio is a feminist lawyer, scholar, and activist with decades of experience in both grassroots movements and more formal legal and UN contexts. (December 2004)

Silvia Pimentel is a Brazilian jurist, Professor of Legal Philosophy at the Catholic University of Sao Paulo (PUC/SP) and coordinates the Brazilian section of the Committee of Latin America and the Caribbean for the Defense of Women’s Rights (CLADEM). (December 2004)

Sandra Morán is a Guatemalan political activist, artist and member of the follow-up team of Sector de Mujeres. (November 2004)

Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq - Born in 1960 in Baghdad, Yanar Mohammed came of age in turbulent political times. After leaving Iraq with her husband and infant son in 1993, Yanar worked with other Iraqi women to establish the Defense of Iraqi Women's Rights (DIWR) in Canada in 1998. The shelter her organization helped open in Iraq has saved over 250 women from honor killings. She has served as the director-coordinator of DIWR in 1998, 1999, and 2002. In June 2004, the group changed its name to The Organization of Women's Freedom, and relocated to Iraq. Yanar remains a key speaker on behalf of Iraqi women and also works as editor in chief of a newspaper called Equality (Al-Mousawat). (October 2004)

The Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice, An Interview with Brigid Inder. She has more than a decade's experience advocating and advising at United Nations conferences, and global negotiations, particularly in relation to the Cairo agreements and the Beijing Platform for Action. She has spent over 15 years working in NGOs in Australasia. She was a founding member of HERA, an international network of women's human rights and health activists. She has a background working on issues of young women's participation, leadership and activism. She has worked extensively on women's human rights and gender equality, particularly in the area of sexual and reproductive rights, including LGBT issues. (August 2004)

Demanding state and corporate responsibility through legal and extra-legal mechanisms, An Interview with Blanca Velázquez, an ex-maquiladora worker from the automobile industry. Previously she was the Secretary General of the Independent Union of SIMENS Workers. Currently she is a representative of the Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador A.C. (CAT), (Worker's Support Center), a non profit organization that advocates and promotes employment rights in the state of Puebla. (July 2004)

What are the implications of a rights based approach for the struggle against violence against women?, An Interview with Charlotte Bunch, founder and executive director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership. She has been an activist, author, and organizer in women's and human rights movements for over three decades. (February 2004)

Using the Optional Protocol to CEDAW on the ground, An Interview with Tulika Srivastava, human rights lawyer based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Much of her work focuses on advocacy for the realization of human rights at the local level. (January 2004)

Reviewing the Advances in the Sexual Rights, An Interview with Suki Beavers. Suki Beavers joined Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD), as the Senior Human Rights Advisor in January 2002. Suki leads ACPD's work integrating sexual and reproductive rights into international human rights discourse at the UN Commission on Human Rights. In 2003, Suki was heavily involved with the Brazilian resolution on human rights and sexual orientation, working very closely with many of the delegations involved and with the few NGOs actively lobbying in Geneva. December 2003)

The LGBT Community and Sexual Rights, An Interview with Susana Fried, Director of Programs of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. (December 2003)

An Interview with Rosa Manzo, a member of the "Flor de Azalea" group, an initiative dedicated to the analysis, investigation, study and proposals concerning the human rights of sex workers. (September 2003)

Women Writing Africa: Women Negotiating Spaces and Lives, Women Telling the Story, An interview with Abena P. A. Busia, poet and short story writer, Project Co-Director of ‘Women Writing Africa’, and Associate Professor at the Department of English Literature, Rutgers University, New Jersey, United States (September 2003)

An Interview with Sandra Patricia Arturo D´vries, Founder and Director of the Foundation “María Fortaleza” of Colombia, General Coordinator of the National Foundation of Positive Women and the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Movement of Positive Women. (September 2003)

Women's organizing and movements in the Caribbean and at the Global Level , an interview with Peggy Antrobus, who is from Grenada, in the Caribbean and has been involved in women's organizing since 1975. She was involved in formation of networks such the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA) in 1980, Development Alternatives for Women in the New Era (DAWN) in 1985 and the International Gender and Trade Network (IGTN) in 1999. Peggy is presently writing a book about the global women's movement. (October 2003)

Women’s Rights and Free Trade, an interview with Natividad Yabut-Bernardino, program coordinator of the International South Group Network (ISGN) women and globalization program and works with the ISGN international secretariat based in Manila. She is also a senior researcher in the Resource Center for People's Development-Philippines. (October 2003)

Women's Economic Citizenship: An Unresolved Matter for Liberal Democracies, an interview with Irene Brenes, a daughter of the countryside, worker, and advocate of women’s economic human rights, and member of the feminist organization Agenda Política de Mujeres and of the Central American labor non-government organization, ASEPROLA. (July 2003)

An Interview with Leni Marin, Managing Director at the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF). A longtime activist in the struggle for democratic rights in the Philippines, her country of origin, Marin is currently focusing her efforts on the right's of battered immigrant and refugee women. (May 2003)

An Interview with Diana M. Gutiérrez Londoño, feminist lawyer, active member of Ruta Pacífica de Mujeres Colombianas, has worked with different popular, non-governmental, community and women's organizations. (May 2003)

An Interview with Lucy Garrido, co-coordinator of Articulación Feminista Marcosur (headquarters: Cotidiano Mujer) and Promotional Designer for the campaign Against Fundamentalism, People are Fundamental (March 2003)

Women’s Human Rights in Post-Conflict Afghanistan, an interview with Ariane Brunet, Women's Rights Coordinator, Rights & Democracy (Canada) (February 2003)

Connecting the Global and the Local: Women’s Human Rights Movements and the Critique of Globalization, an interview with Josefa “Gigi” Francisco, Executive Director, Women and Gender Institute (WAGI), Miriam College, Philippines and Regional Coordinator for Southeast Asia, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN). (October 2002)

Donna Sullivan, Professor of Human Rights, Director of the Human Rights Clinic at New York University, and activist for women's human rights, addresses the impact of September 11 and US foreign policy one year on. (September 2002)

Michèle Audette, spokesperson for the Quebec Native Women, Inc. (September 2002)

Tracy Wood, editor of Ms. Magazine and award-winning journalist, discusses women's human rights, the importance of women's stories, and her goals as editor of Ms. Magazine. (September 2002)

María José Lubertino, President of the Women's Social and Political Institute, Professor of Human Rights at the Faculty of Law of the University of UBA, Argentina (May 2002)

Charlotte Bunch, Executive Director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL) (May 2002)

Farida Shaheed, from Shirkat Gah, Pakistan and Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) International Solidarity Network (December 2001)

Indai Sajor, Executive Director of the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice (December 2001)