Women's Views on News

New interactive website from UNIFEM

UNIFEM have launched a new website that uses interactive resources to inform people about gender based violence. The Global Virtual Knowledge Centre aims to guide, educate and empower with its informational sections on issues such as prevention, policy and legislation, according to Media Global

Impossible obstacles for women journalists in Saudi Arabia

Fatima Sidia writes about the barriers that women journalists face in Saudi Arabia. According to journalist Manal Humaidan,the only way that women, herself included, seem to be able to make progress and forge contacts with other people is through the support they receive from their male colleagues. The problem is further compounded with the separation of males and females at events, according to AWID

Women's rights are still human rights

Lisa A. Hooms writes for The Huffington Post about our inability to transfer 'the rhetorical commitment to women's human rights into reality' 15 years on from Hilary Clinton's declaration that, 'human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights, once and for all' in Beijing, at the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women, there are still major milestonesthat we need to achieve

Cuban women in white heckled during a peaceful demonstration

In what marks the seven year anniversary of a major government crackdown on dissent in Havana, members of the Cuban dissident group, Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco), were heckled during a peaceful protest by hundreds of government supporters on Thursday in central Havana. 30 women from the group,  are wives and mothers of the 75 dissidents who were arrested on March 18, 2003 streets. According to the article, this isn't the first time this week that the Cuban authorities have tried to suppress those exercising their right to freedom of expression, with a predicted  total of 200 political activists being held in prison, according to The Hindu

Women who want to be obese- an act of liberation?

In a week where 42 year old Donna Simpson announced plans to be the fattest woman in the world, Lynda Cowell, from the Guardian, explores the world of women who overeat intentionally with the aim to be obese. Lynda discusses whether the women who overeat to this extent or the 'gainer' do this in an act of  feminist liberation or whether it's an avoidance tactic.

UN announces all male panel after two week meeting on gender empowerment

How depressing, but how predictable. IPS news has a story about the decision by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a 19-member, all-male high-level advisory group on Climate Change Financing. Not surprisingly, it provoked strong protests from women's groups and non-governmental organisations outraged by the composition of the panel. Ironically, the new panel was announced on 12 March just as the United Nations concluded a two-week meeting on gender empowerment.

French MP calls for return of brothels

Definitely a contentious issue. A right wing French MP - Chantal Brunel - from Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party has said that France must bring back the brothel to protect its prostitutes from exploitation, trafficking and aggression in the street, according to a story in today's Guardian. I didn't know they cared.

Catholic adoption agency rejects gay parents

The Guardian reports today on a high court ruling allowing a Catholic adoption agency to reject gay couples as parents.

Jonathan Finney, head of external affairs at Stonewall, said:

"It's unthinkable that anyone engaged in delivering any kind of public or publicly funded service should be given licence to pick and choose service users on the basis of individual prejudice."

Video: 15 Years on from Beijing

Maxim News has a video featuring excerpts from Wednesday's UNICEF panel to discuss a report presented at the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of women. It explores why world leaders have failed to deliver their promises to girls.

Holocaust survivor and women's rights advocate honoured in France

Simone Veil has been honoured in France's Academie Francaise as an 'Immortal'.

Veil has won international public recognition as a champion of women's rights, including a leading role in passing France's abortion law. Now 82, Veil continues to hold a place in the France's heart as one of the nation's favourite politicians.

Read more and watch streaming video on this story at France 24.