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Last year’s presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire ended in a violent standoff between the incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, and the internationally recognized winner of the vote, Alassane Ouattara. During the five-month crisis, which ended with Gbagbo’s arrest and Ouattara’s inauguration, more than 3,000 Ivorians died. We spoke with Charles Djrekpo, NDI resident director, about NDI efforts to help the reconciliation process, and how women and youth leaders are the key to a more a peaceful future for Côte d’Ivoire.

Justice remains out of reach for millions of the world’s women, a flagship report launched today by UN Women warns.

'Progress of the World’s Women:In Pursuit of Justice' is UN Women’s first major report, following the organization’s launch in early 2011. It recognizes the positive progress made – 139 countries and territories now guarantee gender equality in their constitutions, for example – but also shows that too often, women continue to experience injustice, violence and inequality in their home and working lives.

More than 300 Armenian women from different political parties, civic organizations, government agencies and geographic regions came together for a two-day conference in Yerevan last month to discuss policy solutions to the challenges they all face. Together, they called for increasing women’s political and economic participation, better access to health care and a reduction in domestic violence.

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Democratic Institute (NDI) today condemned the assassination attempt against President Alpha Condé of the Republic of Guinea at his residence in Conakry during the early hours of July 19.

When South Sudan became the world’s newest country on July 9, it joined the community of nations with a new constitution adopted by the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly in an eight-hour session on July 6. Now it must work to develop a permanent constitution, and many citizens and civic groups are eager to lend a hand.

First ever Mock Parliament for Women begins in Kiribati.

8 August 2011 (Tarawa, Kiribati) – Today marked an historic day in the Pacific, with the Kiribati National Parliament hosting the first ever Mock Parliament for Women. Thirteen women from Tarawa and seventeen women from the outer islands of Kiribati came together in the Maneaba ni Maungatabu (Parliament) following a 3-day preparatory training workshop last week.

UNDP Pacific Centre.  

PRESS RELEASE: Kiribati Women Show Their Skills in Parliament

9 August 2011 (Tarawa, Kiribati) – The Maneaba ni Maungatabu (Parliament) was a scene of intense debate and dialogue today as thirty Kiribati women – thirteen women from Tarawa and seventeen women from the outer islands – came together on the last day of the first ever Mock Parliament for Women held in the Kiribati, or in the Pacific.

Where have all the women gone? Long time passing. This year alone, there will be over 30 presidential elections held around the world. Over half of these will be in Africa. On 20 September 2011, Zambia goes to the polls to elect a president, members of parliament and local councilors. Another chapter in the country’s democratic history will be written as people exercise their right to vote and to choose their leaders at all levels. So where are the women representatives in this process?

The 66th General Debate of the UN General Assembly closed this week with evidence of firm commitments to gender equality throughout the speeches of high-level government representatives.

This year’s debate was the first since the formation of UN Women in January 2011. Held annually, it is attended by heads of state and government, foreign ministers and other officials of UN Member States. In 2011, in another first, a woman opened the session — H.E. President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil.