Speakers at first national conference of South Asian Women in Media (SAWM) called for promoting gender equality by portraying women and men in a non-stereotypical, humane and balanced manner. They said South Asia is passing through a crucial period where journalists face many challenges and risks while performing their duties and women journalists along with their male counterparts are susceptible to danger in the absence of safety measures.

The Council of Women World Leaders, a policy program of the Aspen Institute, hosted a panel discussion between former US Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and Margot Wallström, the Vice President of the European Commission. This event was the inaugural program of the Madeleine K. Albright Women's Voices at the Aspen Institute Series.

At a gathering of more than 300 women, Chair and Co-Founder Melanne Verveer highlighted 10 years of Vital Voices involvement and engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean, opening the Women Leadership Summit. Vital Voices also presented President Michelle Bachelet of the Republic of Chile with its prestigious Global Trailblazer Award.

Afghanistan woman member of Parliament, 30-year-old Malalai Joya, has been conferred the prestigious Anna Politkovskaya Award for her work in defending human rights. The award, set up in memory of Russian investigative journalist, Anna Poli-tkovskaya, who was killed in Moscow on October 7, 2006, is given every year to a woman human rights defender from a conflict zone in the world.

Fifty women political leaders from the Middle East and North Africa will participate in a program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative ( MEPI ), at the American University’s Center for Democracy and Election Management (CDEM) and Women and Politics Institute (WPI) . The Election Exchange Program will allow program participants an opportunity to learn from the U.S. experience in electoral campaigning and the chance to witness local and presidential elections up close.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has reiterated his opposition to the so-called 'pink quota' of women in politics in a new book that comes out on Wednesday.

While women in the region can vote, and are acknowledged for their role in community and low-level politics, at least two prominent women politicians in the region have insisted that the playing field is not level, and a woman’s ability to lead is still being questioned in Caribbean cultures. Among the most prominent of Bahamian women politicians, Janet Bostwick has lamented the fact that – much to her disappointment – gender inequality still pervades the Bahamas.

The Association which started with a modest membership of 20 women currently has a total number of 225 members who have vowed to rally behind the NPP Parliamentary candidate due to his sense of humility and dedication to service as the DCE which has contributed to the massive development stride of the District. The NPP Regional Women organizer commended the members of the ‘Mothers of Sompahene’ for acknowledging the efforts of the Mr. George Boakye and their decision to rally behind him to win the Parliamentary seat.

I recently participated in a workshop on special measures for women organized by the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat on 25-26 September in Port Moresby and I would like to share some of thoughts and

Former Prime Minister late Benazir Bhutto introduced the trend to nominate women on the coveted position of secretary information in the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on all levels. Sherry Rehman replaced Taj Haider in the centre whereas Dr Fehmida Mirza and Farzana Raja replaced male office bearers in Sindh and Punjab respectively. The purpose to nominate women on this position was to give out a soft and liberal image of the party to the world, a mission which the PPP accomplished as the party was portrayed in a modern light in the world.

Opening the Workshop, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare voiced his strong support for the advancement of women in public life, including increasing women's representation in parliament. The Prime Minister emphasized the shared responsibility of men, women, members of the legislature and voters in working together to change perceptions and recognize the need for both genders to be represented in parliament and public life, in order for Pacific nations to realize their full potential in the global environment.

The Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) will hold a one day forum to discuss women’s participation in the electoral process and the way forward for the implementation of a women’s memorandum that calls for affirmative action that would increase women’s participation in governance.

A decision was reached today that the Iraqi provincial elections law will contain a 25 percent quota for women.

The Turkish Coordination of the European Women's Lobby, or EWL, initiated the campaign within the frame of “50/50 Campaign for Democracy,” launched Sept. 16 by the EWL in order to increase women's presence in politics. The Turkish women's lobby advocates for a parity law, which would guarantee an equal number of female and male candidates for all elections, to be applied and safeguarded by the Constitution.

Opportunity International paid homage to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia and Africa's first elected female head of state, at a special awards ceremony hosted by the organization's Women's Opportunity Network at Le Parker Meridien Hotel in New York today. The International Women's Leadership Award recognized President Sirleaf for her distinguished career over four decades of fighting for freedom, justice and equality both in the private and public domain of Liberia and internationally.