UN chief calls for end to violence against women

July 8th, 2009 UN: Rape, sexual violence growing in AfghanistanUNITED NATIONS — Afghan women are increasingly the victims of violence, including rapes and acid-throwing attacks at the hands of anti-government elements and local chieftains, according to new U.N. report. The situation is further aggravated by impunity for perpetrators and the failure of authorities to protect woman's rights, the report states.

June 21st, 2009 NOW elects Maryland woman its next presidentINDIANAPOLIS — The National Organization for Women has elected a 56-year-old Maryland woman as its next president in a close win over a rival who had been endorsed by the group's current president. NOW said Terry O'Neill, who is white, defeated Latifa Lyles, a 33-year-old African-American woman from Washington, D.C., during the organization's three-day national conference in Indianapolis.

May 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - An elated Election Commission Saturday said that over 50 percent of women voters in the capital came out to cast their votes for the Lok Sabha polls, showing much more enthusiasm than in the last general elections. 'We were flooded with calls from women voters enquiring about the poll process and clearing doubts over their identity proof,' Uday Baxi, joint chief electoral officer, told IANS.

May 2nd, 2009 7 NY officers disciplined in stabbing caseNEW CASSEL, N.Y. — Seven New York police officers are being disciplined for poorly handling domestic violence calls to a woman's home days before officials say her ex-boyfriend killed her.

April 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Women are making steady inroads into almost every profession in South Asia these days. Yet, when it comes to politics, why are many women politicians not seen? The reason, according to an NGO, is violence - more psychological than physical - against women in politics.

March 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - When a marriage brimming with violence goes to pieces, is co-parenting possible? It depends on whether intimate terrorism or situational violence was involved, says a new study. 'There's a tendency to treat all violence as if it's the same, but different types of violence require different interventions,' said Jennifer Hardesty, University of Illinois (U of I) assistant professor of human and community development, who conducted the study.

March 10th, 2009 LONDON - The British government Monday launched its largest-ever public consultation to tackle violence against women and girls, including a probe into the sexualisation of teenage girls. Thousands in towns and cities across England are expected to take part in the consultation, which was launched by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and also includes a review into police powers for dealing with serial perpetrators of domestic violence.

March 9th, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh's parliament will more than double the number of seats reserved for women and repeal laws that discriminate against women, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the International Women's Day at Osmani Memorial Hall here, she said: 'We will reintroduce the National Women Development Policy adopted during the last Awami League government's tenure.

March 9th, 2009 DHAKA - The number of seats reserved for women in Bangladesh parliament would be raised to 100 from 45 at present, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said here. She said the government will repeal all the laws that discriminate against women, the Daily Star reported Monday.

March 8th, 2009 NEW YORK - On the occasion of the International Women's Day Sunday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for ending all forms of violence against women that perpetuate poverty and inequality. He said the habitual and socially ingrained violence against women mars lives, destroys health, and perpetuate poverty and inequality, WAM reported.

March 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - More and more Indian women are breaking the glass ceiling and marching ahead in male dominated fields like driving taxis or becoming disc jockeys, but there are still thousands of women still struggling for their basic rights -- not able to own land or fighting against domestic violence. For instance, according to international NGO Action Aid, women farmers produce 60-80 percent of the agricultural produce in India and other developing countries.

March 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US Monday called for an end to the violence in the small West African country of Guinea-Bissau following the slaying of the nation's president. 'We call for a cessation of violence and the conduct of government under peaceful means and that the perpetrators of these crimes should be brought to justice,' State Department deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid said.

January 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday said violence against those who promote pub culture in India was unjustified. 'If you say that India should have pubs everywhere, it is your opinion.

January 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Shocked over the rape of a management student in Noida, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has decided to a launch a campaign called 'Wake Up' to sensitise people about crimes against women in the National Capital Region (NCR). The campaign will spread awareness about increasing incidents of rape, harassment and other crimes against women.

December 27th, 2008 UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon Saturday called for an immediate halt to the violence in Gaza and southern Israel. Ban said in a statement that he is 'deeply alarmed' by the worsening situation in Gaza and southern Israel, and called for 'an immediate halt to all violence'.