Role of women in society

The talks in Syria began today, with the Syrian government and opposition exchanging accusations and invectives. Missing was the voice of nonviolent civilians, especially women, even through they have been trying for months to have a seat at the table. "When we talk about women at the table, the men see them as the tablecloth," said Hibaaq Osman, an NGO leader who has been working with Syrian women and pushing for their inclusion. "The future of Syria should not exclusively be decided by those who carry guns."

Last year, only 17% of attendees at the World Economic Forum’s annual conference at Davos were women. This year, it’s 15%. It’s basically a game of Where’s Waldo, except imagine that Waldo represents over half of the world’s population, is trying to shape policy that will affect the world’s entire population, and is wearing a pantsuit instead of a stripy turtleneck. And check out this Olympic-level buck-passing from the conference’s managing director:

Helen Clark, New Zealand's Prime Minister for nine years, developed a reputation for being "no-nonsense" and "strong" at the top, something she shares in common with Britain's only female PM Margaret Thatcher. She gives Louisa Peacock a masterclass on how women can survive the cut throat world of politics

I laughed over the François Hollande “affair”, even when Valérie Trierweiler’s “deep blues” resulted her being hospitalised. Seemed like the vapours that conveniently overcame Victorian ladies. Ha ha. In India, by strange coincidence, a similar story was unfolding involving Shashi Tharoor, once a high-flyer at the UN and now an Indian MP and minister, as well as a columnist and author. Suave, handsome and talented, he’s a prolific tweeter with two million followers. I have debated with him at conferences and met his third wife, the glamorous Sunanda Pushkar, while visiting India.

FEMALE political stakeholders have condemned the violence that characterised 2013 and have implored political parties to learn to co-exist.

 They said yesterday that violence was a hindrance to the participation of citizens, including women and youths, in the political and governance processes of the country.

Conference of Syrian women, convened by UN Women and Netherlands, ends with strong recommendations for upcoming peace talks
 
(Geneva, 14 January) A two-day meeting to support women's participation and voice in the Syrian peace process, convened in Geneva by UN Women together with the Government of the Netherlands, ended today with a statement by Syrian women civil society members and activists.

Egyptians were voting in a referendum on the country’s draft constitution on Tuesday and Wednesday, a document that would enshrine unprecedented gender equality for women.

Since the so-called Arab Spring shook Egypt and the region to its foundations in 2010, the roles and rights of women in the Middle East’s most populous country have been under the spotlight.