Women, Peace and Security

After Amira’s husband was killed in the Syrian war, she found herself adrift in Lebanon. Barred from working and with two young children to feed, she resorted to marrying off her nine-year-old daughter and putting her 12-year-old son to work.

Turkey, host to the world's largest Syrian refugee population, which swelled after a civil war broke out in the country five years ago, is looking to improve the lives of the most vulnerable members of the refugee community - women.

Local rights groups criticized on Tuesday the legal provision on female genital mutilation (FGM) in its current format, proposing several amendments besides those put forth by the health ministry.

Womankind Worldwide explains the importance of the CDIMA, Center for the Holistic Development of Aymara Women (CDIMA). Asunta is 46 and from Queñi. For years she suffered physical and emotional abuse from her brother.

It is election time in Zambia, with citizens going to the polls today to elect the President, Members of Parliament and Councillors, and to vote in a constitutional referendum. It looks to be a close race, but unfortunately not as far as women are concerned. 

I recently met with Siiqqee in Ethiopia, visiting projects that promote women’s economic rights and ending violence against women. Siiqqee enables hundreds of women in a community to escape domestic violence, support themselves and their children independently and plan for their future.