Scores of women's organisations from Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia joined forces last week for a sensational campaign led by the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR). As part of the 'One Day, One Struggle' simultaneous event on 9 November, public demonstrations, film screenings, theatre performances and workshops were held in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, Turkey and Tunisia.

The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) has launched its annual global Call for Proposals for programmes that support country-level efforts to end violence against women and girls. The criteria, eligibility requirements and application guidelines are available at The deadline for application is 20 January 2011.

The Nigerian government needs to show commitment to the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa by passing relevant laws and allocating funds to women’s rights, argues Omoyemen Odigie-Emmanuel.

Looking back on the background to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, Norah Matovu Winyi discusses the efforts of the Solidarity for Women’s Rights in Africa Coalition (SOAWR Coalition) to popularise the protocol and push for its widespread ratification, with particular reference to Uganda and Kenya.

Reflecting on progress towards the African Union (AU) Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on Women in Africa, Sidiga Washi outlines the steps and provisions which need to be made to move forward the ratification of the protocol in Sudan.

The Moroccan government is stepping up efforts to check the rising maternal mortality rate in the country by implementing a variety of measures to help women who give birth without medical supervision, particularly in rural areas. Experts say about 132 deaths per 100,000 live births occur each year. At a meeting organised by Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) - a Moroccan political party founded in 1975 – a number of factors were listed as the main causes of maternal mortality in the North African country.

Questions have been raised about where the funding for the Ugandan tabloid Rolling Stone comes from. The tabloid received world publicity for its 'outing' campaign against lesbians and gays.It seems likely that the Rolling Stone’s campaign is designed to increase pressure on the Museveni government, facing a surprisingly strong opposition heading into upcoming elections, to move the Anti-Homosexuality Bill toward passage, says this article.

ENGAGINGMEN.NET is a practitioners' portal for people around the world who are interested in engaging boys and men in gender justice, supporting women's empowerment, ending violence against women and the spread of HIV/AIDS, promoting responsible fatherhood, healthy relationships, and more.

This Thursday marks the United Nations recognised International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and in an effort to raise awareness about his important issue, Earthlife Africa will be gathering at the Fountain, St. Georges Mall, Strand Street end in Cape Town, on Saturday, 27 November, between 10am and 1pm, to raise their concerns and spread awareness. 'Little known impacts of nuclear radiation on women and children, especially women that are pregnant, must be brought out into the open,' said Earthlife Africa Cape Town’s Gray Maguire. 'The ongoing threat to the unborn in our country is at a higher level than ever before, given plans to build multiple nuclear power stations across the country..

The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) calls on the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights to confirm that it does not reject the rights of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people.

A group of Uganda gay rights activists have protested steps by the government to ‘intentionally delete’ LGBTI from accessing vital health services for Most At Risk Population Groups (MARPS) in a national health policy soon to be launched.

Has Tanzania’s parliament elected Anna Makinda as its first female speaker because she’s the best person for the job, or because it thinks she’s less likely to demand accountability than her predecessor, asks Salma Maoulidi.

Nawal el Saadawi is a popular speaker and writer in the UK. For the first time ever she will be facilitating a course on her specialised area, creativity and dissidence. Places are limited and will be offered on a first come first served basis.

The gender unit of TWN-Africa is hosting a round-table on gender and regional economic integration in Africa on 18-19 November, 2010, in Accra, Ghana. The meeting will bring together scholars, feminist economists and gender experts, as well as policy-makers, to discuss issues of gender equity and Africa’s economic integration.

No sooner had Mariness Luhanga announced her intention to contest local elections in Mzimba district in northern Malawi, than she was summoned to appear before a village court on allegations of insulting men. 'I knew that some people in the village were not amused by my campaigns and had started to circulate stories that I was disrespectful to male candidates, that I was calling them names,' Luhanga, who wants to stand as a People Development Movement (PDM) candidate in Chapitamuno village told IPS.

As the transgender movement rises across Africa and the world Batswana have formed their own transgender identity oriented organisation titled Rainbow Identity Association (RIA). It aims to offer support to trans people not recognised by the lesbian, gay and bisexual community as well as the general society.

'Turning a blind eye when people are targeted because of their real or alleged sexual orientation, makes the authorities complicit in the abuse.' So said Chris Dolan, Director of the Refugee Law Project, a member of Uganda’s Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law. This after gay rights groups in Uganda expressed concern about the deafening silence of political leaders while human rights violations against sexual minorities continue unabated in the heart of Yoweri Museveni’s country.

The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology is accepting nominations for the Women of Vision Awards to honour women making signification contributions to technology. The awards are given in three different categories of Innovation, Leadership and Social Impact (each category has an award).

Two women's rights defenders – Dr Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang-Sissoho – are on trial in Gambia.

Insisting female potential recruits are pregnant is an effective army deterrent against women in the military, suggests Gado.