• Efforts to Boost Women Falter. [Chicago Tribune] Sharifa Hamrah does not go to work much anymore. Her job is just too dangerous, considering the rocket attacks, the threats on her life and the would-be suicide bomber who disguised himself as a woman in an attempt to get to her office. She is no soldier. She carries no gun. Yet Hamrah, 48, a short woman with a sly smile and a headscarf, has become an unwilling participant in a war, a potential target like the other women who work for the Women's Affairs Ministry in Afghanistan. "Our problem is we cannot go out," said Hamrah, who is head of women's affairs in troubled southern Paktika province but spends much of her time in Kabul. "We cannot go to the districts. We cannot go to the villages. We cannot talk to village elders. We cannot even talk to women." The Women's Affairs Ministry, charged with defending women's rights in a country where they have few, cannot cite many accomplishments. It has no executive power. It cannot enforce any laws. But it has increased awareness of the problems women face, with anti-violence campaigns on radio and billboards. And it is now known as a place where women can vent their complaints, which is more than they could do during the harsh regime of the Taliban. But the ministry, created by the post-Taliban government, is in trouble. The head of women's affairs in Kandahar province, who had criticized the Taliban's treatment of women, was gunned down in front of her home in September. Some women working for the department started staying home. And the Taliban, which claimed responsibility for that attack, is hardly the only threat.

• Two Babies, Two Women Killed in Roadside Blast. [The Associated Press] A roadside bomb ripped through a vehicle in eastern Afghanistan, killing a woman, her two newborn babies and the children's grandmother, an official said. The father of the twins and the vehicle's driver also were wounded in the blast in Mandozayi district, Khost province, said Jamal Arsallah, the province's governor. The twins were born the previous day, and the family was taking them back to their village, Arsallah said. It was not immediately clear why the vehicle was targeted. Militants usually use roadside bombs to attack Afghan and foreign troops on patrol.

• PACE Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men Holds Meeting. [Today.Az, Azerbaijan] Azerbaijani parliamentarian, member of the Azerbaijani delegation Elmira Akhundova represented our country in the meeting, APA reports. The report on the state of women in the South Caucasus worked out by Russian parliamentarian Vera Oskina was discussed at the meeting. Elmira Akhundova said that all the amendments she proposed were adopted. "I am satisfied with the results of the discussions. The rapporteur and the members of the commission agreed not only upon this proposal. The expressions in some of the paragraphs were softened. The expression 'The women face discrimination while being employed' caused serious discussions. I stated that the situation in Azerbaijan is not so. We have adopted the law on gender equality, discrimination, as well as possible discrimination in salary is punished by law," she said. Elmira Akhundova offered to substitute the expression 'there are cases when women undergo discrimination.' As a result of intensive discussions, the expression 'women often face difficulties while being employed' was approved.

• Shisha's Female Fans Defy Taboo. [Gulf News, UAE] The three girls sitting in the upscale Adliya cafe were gaily blowing smoke rings in the air, laughing lightly as they were increasingly engaged in a light competition about who could make the largest circle. Leaning back in their chairs, they seemed oblivious to the world around them. In their early twenties, they seemed on a short break from their daily office work. They did not mingle with anyone, but they were intent on feeling 'cool'. For the older generations, cigarette-smoking stars embodied the definition of what was 'cool'. For these young girls, and thousands of other Bahrainis, attaining the 'cool' level could be achieved through smoking shisha in a public place.

• Female Leaders' Rivalry Seen Hurting Bangladesh. [Washington Times] For 15 years Bangladesh has been dominated by the revolving-door premiership of two women whose rivalry is among the most ferocious in the democratic world. President Jimmy Carter tried to get Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheik Hasina Wajed to shake hands in 2004, but couldn't even persuade them to look at each other. Last month, at a party, the two held court in different corners of the room. It's the stuff of political slapstick, except that this feud is rooted in the assassination of one woman's father and the other's husband, and the result is anything but funny. “We have floods, cyclones, many people die. But Zia and Hasina are worse," said Dhaka shop owner Abul Islam, 51. "The two ladies are our worst disaster."

• Education Must for Women’s Empowerment: Haryana Minister. [Zee News, India] Haryana Social Welfare Minister Kartar Devi and vice-president of Haryana Child Welfare Council, Asha Hooda exhorted the women to take a solemn pledge to ensure the every girl child in their families goes to school as education is must for women’s empowerment. Both Devi and Asha Hooda were speaking at a function organized to launch Sakshar Mahila Samooh (SMS), a group of literate women and adolescent girls of the village Rasoi in this district. Devi said that the schemes being implemented under the guidance of Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda to raise the educational and social status of women would check the declining sex ratio. The tone for the campaign was set by Asha Hooda who gave a call to the women to unite and fight for their rights. "Today when you return home you must ensure that each and every girl child in your family goes to school. Education is a must for women's empowerment. Without it life is incomplete", she maintained.

• Women Will Get Good. [Sahara Samay, India] The Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, said that women will get good share of tickets in the upcoming MCD polls, Sahara Samay sources said. The women workers of the Congress party will get the benefit of increase in number of wards, she announced here. The Coordination Committee of the Delhi Congress had earlier resolved to hold elections to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on time in March this year so that the new House is constituted by the due date. The All-India Congress Committee general secretary in charge Delhi affairs, Ashok Gehlot, said the Congress party was ready for the MCD polls and the sealing issue won't have any bearing on the results.

• India Reaches Out to Women Deserted by NRI Husbands. [Indian Muslims] The government is in touch with the US and Britain to ensure justice for Indian women who have been deserted by their NRI husbands, Minister of State of Women and Child Development Renuka Choudhury said. Speaking at a session on gender issues in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the annual conclave of India's diaspora, Choudhury spoke about the experience of many harassed women who were left in lurch by their NRI husbands in the alien land, after making rosy promises. "Don't teach the women to wait for a hand, empower them," she said.

• Western Culture Spoiling Women. [Central Chronicle, India] Men alone cannot be held wholly responsible for indecency against women. To some extent, they themselves are responsible. They vie with one another in looking modern. Some of them even do not abhor hard drinks and even smoking. In the name of modernity, they choose what may be called sexy dress. Naturally, therefore the male is attracted unduly. Ours is a society where women were held in high esteem. Scriptures tell us "poojyante yatra naryah ramante tatra devatah" meaning where women are respected (worshipped) gods reside there. As against this backdrop following western culture blindly, women are reduced to plaything to satisfy the sexual instinct. Many an untoward and indecent incidents against women can be checked if a balance is struck between our culture and westernism. Indecency of the type under consideration is also to a very great extent the result of role played by film industry, internet and a good deal of pornographic literature circulating in the country sole aim of which is to earn money without bothering about the deleterious effect it is spreading all around.

• Jewelers Plan to Bar Veiled Women. [Gulf Times, Qatar] Jewelers in the western Indian town of Pune plan to ban women wearing veils from entering their shops, after robberies in two leading stores. The move followed jeweler heists worth Rs1mn ($22,600) from three stores in Pune last month, IANS news agency reported. Surveillance cameras filmed two women clad in burqas, a loose black all-enveloping robe worn by Muslim women, stealing jeweler in a couple of stores. The cameras could not identify them because of the veils covering their faces.

• Advanced Training in Garments for Andhra Women. [Fibre2fashion.com, India] Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh, District Collector Naveen Mittal and District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) drafted a four month training program that offers advanced guidance in readymade garments. Majority of women from below poverty line section have been enrolled in this project. Each student will be provided an advanced sewing machine. Advanced learners will be given a fee of Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,000 will be provided to basic learners. Students will also be taught embroidery work and to design patterns according to latest trends.

• Now, Female Condom Available in City. [Star of Mysore, India] Geleya, a non-profit voluntary organization working in Mysore and adjoining districts, has introduced female condom in city as part of HIV / AIDS prevention project. G.K. Devanand of Geleya stated in a press release that there was a need for female condom as men were not using condoms and also for the safety of women. Hence, Geleya, though a male health project, has taken the initiative to introduce the reusable female condom to Mysoreans. The female condom is made of poly prophelene, thinner than the normal latex male condoms. The advantage of this condom is that the heat passes through very easily and is more pleasurable, though expensive.

• Priyan's Next is an All Female Film. [Glamsham.com, India] Close on the heels of Priyadarshan's recent success Bhagam Bhag comes yet another film from him that is truly different! How? Well the film comprises of an all female starcast. Titled Friendship, the film is the Hindi dubbed version of his critically acclaimed Tamil film Snegithiye which stars Tabu, Jyothika, Sharbani Mukherjee, Ishita Arun, Mita Vasisht, and Dipti Bhatnagar amongst other female actors. A suspense thriller, Friendship is truly different since it has no male characters - no hero, no father, no brother, not even a villain. There are no romantic elements or love scenes in the film. To give the film a unique look, everyone from the police personnel to the college principal, hostel warden and professors are women. The film's crew comprises of Priyan's favorites like cinematographer Jeeva and art director Sabu Cyril. The dubbed version is slated for release soon.

• KMC to Make Film on Muslim Women’s ‘Liberator’. [Kolkata Newsline, India] The issue of emancipating women’s, especially those from the Muslim community, is not a new idea. But the municipality is approaching the issue from a different angle now, with the Front-led Kolkata Municipal Corporation sponsoring a film on Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, the legendary Muslim woman who fought for education and liberty of women from the community in early 20th century. The film, now under production, depicts a struggle during an era that hardly offered any opportunities to women. The film’s director, Mujibur Rahman, said: “First, we are talking about a woman who struggled and helped girls and women to come forward and get education. The second point is Rokeya’s contribution in helping Muslim women to join the education stream.” Besides helping revive Rokeya’s iconic stature for the modern woman the film is also being seen as a step by the Left Front to woo Muslim women to organize themselves.

• Rebuilding US-Iran Relations. [Civilrights.org] U.S.-Iranian relations are characterized by layers of mistrust, missed opportunities and pervasive stereotyping of the other. In the midst of this, there are six women who are making a difference. Join us as we learn about the work of Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Prof. Jody Williams and that of the Nobel Women’s Initiative. Learn about creative initiatives that could lead to better relations between Americans and Iranians and explore what individuals can do to ensure that the current tensions do not escalate into armed conflict.

• Iran Recruiting Female Spies in Iraq. [Iran Focus, Iran] Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) is involved in an extensive campaign to recruit Iraqi female spies with the help of local Iraqi parties backed by Iran. The Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) is sending Iraqi women between the ages of 30 and 40 to neighboring Iran to receive training in the art of intelligence gathering, al-Malaf quoted "informed Iraqi sources" as saying. The report said some 2,000 Iraqi women had been sent to Tehran so far. It added that the women were traveling in smaller groups, though it did not specify how large each group was. Once in Tehran, they undergo a one-month-long training course jointly organized by Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the IRGC's elite Qods Force. They are then dispatched to their areas of duty in Iraq. Al-Malaf said most the female recruits had strong ties to Iraq's Shiite groups.

• New in Tehran: Female Bus Driver, But Only for Women. [Ynetnews, Israel] In city in which men and women only allowed to ride on bus together if it is separated into two distinct sections, it is decided to employ female bus driver who will transport only women in order 'to make their movement and security easier'. It was reported in the Iranian news agencies that the first female bus driver in Tehran started work. Being a bus driver is a profession that was previously reserved for men. The woman will drive on a women-only line that spans about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). The price of a trip on this line is about NIS 0.5 (12 cents). The manager of the bus company in Tehran, Muhammad Ahmadibufunda, told that Iranian news agency IRNA, "The bus is meant for women only, and is operated in a special framework of the company." According to the law in the Islamic republic, men and women are allowed to ride together on the bus only if they sit in two separate sections. According to Ahmadibafunda, "Our goal is to develop public transportation use, and to ease the movement of women and their security."

• U.S. Invasion Makes Life Worse for Women. [Seattle Post Intelligencer] The Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq recently issued a frightening report documenting the growing practice of public executions of women by Shiite militia. Almost four years into the Bush administration's ill-fated adventure in Iraq, Iraqi women are worse off than they were under the Baathist regime in a country where, for decades, the freedoms and rights enjoyed by Iraqi women were the envy of women in most other countries of the Middle East. Before the U.S. invasion, Iraqi women had high levels of education. Their strong and independent women's movement had successfully forced Saddam Hussein's government to pass the groundbreaking 1959 Family Law Act, which ensured equal rights in matters of personal law. Iraqi women could inherit land and property; they had equal rights to divorce and custody of their children; they were protected from domestic violence within the marriage. They had achieved real gains in the struggle for equality between women and men. Iraqi women, like all Iraqis, certainly suffered from the political repression and lack of freedom, but the secular -- albeit brutal -- Baathist regime protected women from the religious extremism that denies freedom to a majority of women in the Arab world. The invasion of Iraq changed the status of Iraqi women for the worse. Iraq's new colonial power, the United States, elevated a new group of leaders, most of whom were allied with ultraconservative Shiite clerics. Among the Sunni minority, the quick disappearance of their once dominant political power led to a resurgence of religious identity. Consequently, the Kurds, celebrated for their history of resistance to the Iraqi dictator, were able to reclaim such traditions as honor killings, putting thousands of women at risk. Iraqi sectarian conflict has exacerbated violence against women, making women's bodies the battlefields on which vendettas and threats are played out. My organization, The Global Fund for Women, and the humanitarian community have long known that the presence of military troops in a region of conflict increases the rate of prostitution, violence against women and the potential for human trafficking.

• Trafficking in Women - A Blight on Jewish Decency. [Jerusalem Post, Israel] Recently I attended an event sponsored by ATZUM, an acronym for "Avodat Tzedaka U'Mishpat" (righteous work leads to justice). Knesset member Zehava Gal-On of Meretz was honored for her work in confronting those who traffic in women. ATZUM established a task force against human trafficking in women. From its Web site: "Israel is a destination country for human trafficking. Women and children are brought into the country every year to be exploited as modern-day slaves. Rates of human trafficking in Israel are alarmingly high. Nearly all the trafficking victims in Israel come from the former Soviet Union. "Most victims enter the country through Israel's border with Egypt. Once in Israel, victims are often sold and resold to pimps and brothel owners, who force them to work in slave-like conditions. At every stage in the process, the victims are abused and exploited, often suffering severe beatings, rape and even starvation.”

• IAF Seeks to Double Number of Female Pilots. [Ynetnews, Israel] Air Force Chief Maj.-Gen. Eliezer Shkedy has ordered the army's human resources branch to double the number of female cadets at the Air Force academy, Yedioth Ahronoth has learnt. Shkedy also ordered the selection criteria for female cadets be changed and made similar to criteria applying to male cadets, arguing that tougher requirements are the cause of the high number of dropout among female candidates. Air Force data show that only 5% of cadets who embark on the tough training course are females, only 4% of whom become pilots. The success rate among males is over 20%. Since the Air Force opened its doors to female cadets in 1996 only thirteen females became pilots. Among last year's graduates only one female cadet graduated successfully as an Air Force crew but there were no female pilots.

• Israel's Alpha Female. [Israel 21C] Galia Albin is one grandmother who isn't spending afternoons knitting booties, baking cookies or changing diapers. Instead, she's running to television studios for tapings, representing Israel at international business forums and wielding influence on Israeli policymakers. She is one of the country's powerful women and her mission is to influence and empower other women throughout the world. Sitting in a cramped Tel Aviv television studio dressing room, Albin is bright-eyed, alert and enthusiastic while breaking for lunch between tapings of The Club, a talk show she hosts for Israel's fifty-plus demographic. At 57, Albin holds a slew of titles and positions in both public and private sectors in Israel and beyond. She serves as company director of at least ten publicly held Israeli/international giants including Marks & Spencer Israel, United Steel Mills and the Koor Industries Group, she chairs the Business Forum Women's advisory to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the National Council for Children, The Center for Economic Development Among Jewish & Arab Women and serves as Director of the Israel Women's Network.

• Fahima’s Release Doesn’t Excuse her Captors. [Sunday Herald, UK] Here is a morality tale for our times and, as you might imagine, it's not particularly edifying. In a country in the Middle East known for its unyielding insistence on facing down terrorists, a young woman is arrested and charged with "aiding an enemy in time of war". Following some unseemly plea-bargaining, she takes the guilty route and receives a three-year prison sentence. Much of her incarceration is spent in solitary confinement. Last week she is released and, on her release, reveals to the world that during her interrogation she was handcuffed to her chair and told that her captors were going to teach her to be a "good Jew". The 30-year-old woman in question is Tali Fahima, an otherwise ordinary Israeli who worked as a legal secretary and voted for the right-wing Likud Party. Opinion is divided between those who say that the Shin Bet security services were overly enthusiastic in their methods while the judiciary over-reacted, and those who believe that Fahima had received her just deserts for making contact with some of Israel's worst enemies. Her crime was her unexpected friendship with Zakaria Zubeidi, the leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a terrorist organization based in Jenin, and there is a possibility that she passed on information that would have been useful to him. Perhaps she did. When she was arrested, Shin Bet found a translated army order giving details of an operation to arrest Zubeidi and a number of his lieutenants, but this could just as easily have been a lure planted on her. After all, following her trips to Jenin, Fahima became an outspoken critic of Israel's policy of using legitimized assassination against terrorists. For her pains, Shin Bet spread the word that Fahima was having an affair with Zubeidi. The extraordinary thing is that this ordinary woman did what she did. Having spent most of her life believing that Israel was her country right or wrong and that the Palestinians posed an undeniable threat to its wellbeing, some time in 2003 she decided to try to understand more about why the great divide existed and why it had come into being. Her pilgrimage took her to Jenin, where she came across hundreds of Palestinians, and for the first time in her life, she began to understand the difficulties they faced and the sense of dispossession that was their daily lot.

• Queen Rania Full of Pride and Confidence as She Meets Women of IWF. [Jordan News Agency (Petra), Jordan] The links of the International Women's Forum's (IWF) chain are growing stronger as confident and determined women help the network grow. After taking part in a fruitful Leadership Enhancement and Mentoring Program sponsored by the Jordanian chapter, participants joined Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah to share their experiences and stories of personal growth over the course of the program. "This network brings people together to organize efforts and focus on women's priorities," said the Queen with pride as she heard the women recount their success stories. "Before participating in the program, I didn't know exactly how to express myself to my colleagues—especially my superiors. I was nervous because the environment I worked in was male dominated, and being new I was unsure of myself," said one of the program beneficiaries, "but this program taught me how to assert myself; how to put my thoughts together so I can discuss my opinions with my colleagues; and how to ask for what I need." Other beneficiaries discussed the various lessons learnt from the program. "It helped me realize my own personal shortcomings, and how to modify certain qualities of mine while enhancing others in order to communicate better with my colleagues," said one of the beneficiaries.

• Women Play Vital Role in Development -- Al-Mubarak. [Kuwait News Agency, Kuwait] Women play a vital role in development, and in Kuwait they have made great achievements in natural sciences both at the local and international levels, said Minister of Communications Dr. Maasouma Al-Mubarak. Speaking at "The Conference of Women Leaders in Science, Technology and Engineering", she said the coming phase required consolidation of efforts and that it was not logical to put half of the society aside during this time. Furthermore, she said technological advancements and the use of the Internet led to the creation of a new media address that raised awareness on the importance of social and gender equality away from any form of discrimination. Al-Mubarak called for highlighting women's leadership roles in scientific fields, stressing the need to change social ideologies and help young women cultivate their leadership skills.

• ‘Kuwait Seeks More Women Take Up Careers in Science, Tech Field. [Arab Times, Kuwait] Science and technology can be more effective in the betterment of socio-economic conditions in the region only if it is more inclusive of women, said Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al Sabah. He spoke on behalf of the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Ahmed Al Sabah, at the international conference on ‘Women Leaders in Science’ Monday at Arab Organizations Headquarters in Shuwaikh. The conference was organized by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) in cooperation with Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and US Department of State and will see 50 speakers from the region and the US tackling various topics related to the subject through 18 seminars and 4 workshops spanning three days.

• Islam, Traditions Give Added Value to Women's Scientific Role. [Kuwait News Agency, Kuwait] The teachings of Islam and local traditions have given added value to the role of Muslim women in the field of science and technology, said Kuwait University's former rector Fayza Al-Kharafi. Speaking at "The Conference of Women Leaders in Science, Technology and Engineering", she said leading women had to help in building their societies' scientific platform and bring about logical dialogue and deep thought. She called upon participants to network among themselves and exchange scientific expertise, adding, "technological discoveries and application cannot be the result of an individual effort, but that of consecutive generations of research and cooperation." Al-Kharafi added that Kuwait's hosting of this conference was a contribution to its development and came out of belief in the importance of scientific advancement.

• Women’s Rights Bill Resubmitted to Assembly. [Pakistan Dawn, Pakistan] President of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain submitted the government’s second bill on women’s rights after it was redrafted to accommodate one change. The “Prevention of Anti-Women Practices (Criminal Law Amendment) Bill 2006” – aimed at protecting the rights of women – was first submitted to the speaker in November. However, the bill was withdrawn and redrafted subsequently, omitting a clause seeking ban on three divorces given in one go. The bill, drafted in line with the proposals of a nine-member ulema panel, identifies several problems being faced by women due to lack of legislation. The bill prohibits the handover of women, for settling a dispute between groups. Any violation will carry a three-year prison term and fine. Under section 498A, depriving women of the right to inheritance in property will be prohibited, and any violation will carry up to seven-year imprisonment and fine. Forced marriages have been proposed punishable with a three-year imprisonment and fine under Section 498B. Section 498C prohibits marriages with the Quran, and those involved in arranging or facilitating such marriages will be punishable with three-year imprisonment. Section 498D relates to dissolution of marriages in the absence of husband. It makes the offence punishable under Qazaf where a husband -- having knowledge of a complaint or report of his wife to the court for Qazaf -- fails to undergo the procedure of lian specified in the said section. Section 498E is meant for making a wife liable to prosecution for zina where she admits zina in proceedings for lian. A new section, 302D, has been inserted in Act V of 1898, barring provincial governments from interference through suspending, remitting or commuting any sentence passed under section 376 of the PPC in sentences of rape.

• Representation of Women Up in Every Field: PM. [Daily Times, Pakistan] Practical steps taken by the government have led to the political, social and economic empowerment of women in the country and their representation has improved in every facet of life, said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Chairing a meeting to review the goals of the Women’s Development Ministry, the prime minister said the government believed in gender equality, which was critical for a democratic society, and that the government was making concerted efforts to end gender discrimination in the country. He said the Women’s Protection Act was landmark legislation and more such legislation would be introduced to abolish discriminatory laws and social practices against women. The government will bring in legislation to regulate the sale of acids and to punish anyone who commits the crime of throwing acid on women, said Aziz. “The government is making every effort to enable the female population of the country to play an active role in the development of the country, and is focusing on skills development and better educational facilities for women,” said the prime minister.

• Men, Women Race Free of Islamist Threat. [Reuters India, India] Thousands of men and women took part in a long-distance run through Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore without any trouble from Islamists who have tried to disrupt similar events in the past. Lahore is regarded as Pakistan's cultural capital, but Islamist activists, who deem mixed-sex gatherings in public as un-Islamic, have become bolder in recent years, challenging the city's reputation for tolerance. About 16,000 policemen were deployed to head off trouble. President Pervez Musharraf, who is trying to turn his country onto a path of enlightened moderation, attended the race. "It is a projection of our soft image," Musharraf told reporters before the start.

• Explosion Kills Two Women, Child. [Kuwait News Agency, Kuwait] A powerful explosive material went off with a huge bang in a Pakistani northern valley, killing two women and a child. The incident happened in the fields of an area near Sawat valley, known for sectarian violence as well as picturesque natural beauty, police sources told KUNA. It was not immediately known who had planted the explosive material but police blamed religious extremists.

• First Female Army Cadets Become Honor Guards at Mausoleum of Father of Nation. [The Associated Press] Eight female cadets from the Pakistan army's elite training academy became the first female honor guards at the mausoleum of Pakistan's founder. State-run television showed the female contingent, clad in khaki cadet slacks, some wielding swords and others holding guns, marching to military tunes with their male colleagues in a ceremony at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah, "the father of the nation," in the southern city of Karachi. In November, for the first time in the history of Pakistan, the Pakistan Military Academy Kakul, in the country's northwest, opened its doors to women. In March, women also broke into the all-male air force when it inducted four women pilots. Forty-one females joined the army academy to undergo a rigorous six months of military training along with men before being inducted as officers in various branches of the army.

• Female Filmmakers Triumph With Their Art. [Middle East Times, Egypt] In the academic year of Palestinian universities, "activities period" is usually reserved for political rallying by student union parties. But last term, this window of time was instead dedicated to the presentation of films all made by Palestinian women. For three months in 2006, 11 female filmmakers participated in the Shashat Palestinian Women's film festival, taking their work all over the West Bank and Gaza. The universities they visited have since all signed up to screen more of their movies in upcoming festivals. "At first, people didn't believe that it could happen; what we did was considered the most ambitious and largest film tour of Palestinian cinema in Palestine," says Shashat director Alia Arasoughly. Such incredulity is not a matter of cynicism or chauvinism. The festival took place despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles: Israeli invasions and closures and Palestinian strikes and infighting, not to mention a crippling recession following the international economic boycott of the Palestinian government. Practically every screening was either postponed two, three, or even four times, or outright canceled because of curfews, strikes, or city battles say its organizers.

• Women’s Issues: Baby Steps and Individual Successes. [Arab News, Saudi Arabia] Perhaps there is no issue in Saudi Arabia more sensitive, more controversial and more shrouded in secrecy and contradictions than the issue of women. Whether it is driving, Shoura Council membership, legal rights, employment or anything concerning women, it is guaranteed to generate debate and media attention. However, that does not seem to translate into actual change in the status of women or in the implementation of laws supporting women. Instead, society favors siding with traditions that hamper women’s progress. The year 2006 witnessed ups and downs for women, although the ups seemed more like baby steps and individual successes rather than real change or progress.

• Top Jobs Reserved for Women. [Arab News, Saudi Arabia] Top jobs, especially in the ministries of education and higher education are to be reserved for women. The Education Ministry, which announced the plans two weeks ago, has already appointed more than 27 women in top positions. Five posts for deans have been reserved for women as part of the government’s efforts to place women in top positions and give them more autonomy concerning girls’ education. “This is in addition to women consultants, who were recently appointed to aid and advise the Shoura Council on women-related issues,” said Dr. Fauzia Al-Bakr, a professor at the Riyadh-based King Saud University (KSU).

• Haj Service: Women in Health Care Gain From Experience. [Arab News, Saudi Arabia] According to the Ministry of Health, 37% of the recipients of health-care services during the Haj that concluded last week were female and this Haj showed a considerable increase in the number of Saudi women taking part in the ministry’s pilgrimage operation. “This year we had 861 Saudi women workers, an 11% increase over two years ago,” said Khaled Al-Mirghalani, the ministry spokesman. “The number included physicians and nurses. Saudi women represented a third of about 2,500 female staff that took part in the operation.” The ministry, said Al-Mirghalani, actively recruits women to work during the Haj. “Incentives included stipends, priority in training and promotion opportunities and Ministry of Interior honorary medals,” he pointed out. Dr. Isa Khalufa, a physician, said it was the second time that she took part in the Haj operation in her 20-year career. “I was motivated by the idea of serving the pilgrims, plus encouragement from my husband,” she said. “I learned a lot and gained more experience, especially working under pressure. But apart from that, pleasing the guests of the God was the most single important reward for me.”

Tunisia

• Woman Heads Political Party for First Time. [Reuters] Tunisia's main opposition party elected a woman as its leader, a first for the North African country and only the second example of a woman being chosen to head a political party in the Maghreb. May Eljeribi, the 46-year-old manager of a private research firm, was elected to replace Ahmed Nejib Chebbi who resigned as general secretary of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) after 23 years in the post. Eljeribi is the second female leader of a political party in the Maghreb after Algerian Worker's Party leader Louisa Hanoun. "This is another opportunity for women in Tunisia to fight, not only by working in associations and unions but by taking part in political activity in an important opposition party," Eljeribi told Reuters.

• Islamic Group Vows Fight Over Headscarf Ban. [The Associated Press] A statement posted on an Islamic Web site in the name of a militant group promised a fight against Tunisia's president in response to an official ban on women wearing headscarves in public buildings. The statement suggested the group was involved in a gun battle with the authorities. The Interior Ministry had acknowledged there was a gun battle with police, but did not specify who was involved, saying only that several "dangerous criminals" had been killed, the official TAP news agency reported at the time. The clash was the second within weeks in Tunisia, where such violence is unusual. "For this, the faithful youth of Tunisia have declared jihad (holy war) and fighting against the despot to stop his harm to the Muslims in general and the veiled Muslim women in particular," the statement continued. Tunisia, which bans Muslim headscarves in public buildings, prides itself on promoting women's rights.

• "We Can Support a Female President". [Sabah, Turkey] The leader of DYP (True Path Party), Mehmet Agar, stated that they would support a female president if their numerical power permitted and added: "we will not hesitate to take action for this in case our numerical majority comes true."

• Turkish Women Uninformed About Cervical Cancer. [Turkish Daily News, Turkey] According to a poll conducted on 262 doctors and 433 women in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, Turkish women are seriously under-informed about cervical cancer. Breast cancer is the best-known type of cancer in Turkey, with 97.9% of women showing some level of awareness; however, only 19.2% knew anything about cervical cancer, despite it being amongst the easiest cancers to detect and, in some cases, prevent. According to the research, only 30% of those who had heard of cervical cancer knew that the human papillomavirus (HPV), spread by sexual relations, is a causative factor for cervical cancer. Fifty-seven% said that they had been informed about cervical cancer from television and newspapers. HPV infection is the cause of the majority of cases of cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers in women -- breast cancer is the most common. The virus is very easily spread, according to public health specialist Dr. Ümit Sahin, and is also responsible for genital warts.

• Women Dominated FNC Election Process. [Gulf News, UAE] Women's participation in the Federal National Council election was high although only one female candidate was victorious. Although females dominated the voting process, the majority of votes were won by male candidates, according to the National Election Committee (NEC), which announced a statistical breakdown of the landmark Federal National Council (FNC) elections held in December last year. In Umm Al Quwain, all female voters in the Electoral College cast their votes but male candidates won more than 98% of them. In Abu Dhabi, the voter turnout was over 60% with 44% being female. Male candidates won 84% of the votes. Seventy-two voters (60 males and 12 females) voted in the first hour. Voting hit the highest point at 5pm with 135 voters (115 males and 20 females) and the lowest at 2pm with 49 voters (39 males and 10 females). In Dubai, poll turnout was over 70% with 69.47% female participation. Male candidates secured 85.46% of the votes. Around 148 voters voted in the first hour. Voting hit the highest point at 11 am with 186 voters and the lowest was around 6pm with 32 voters.

• Pink Women-Only Taxis Will Make Their Debut. [Gulf News, UAE] Pink taxis - women's only taxis will make their debut on the roads of Dubai. Mohammad Obaid Al Mulla, CEO of the RTA's Public Transport Agency, said the first stage of the initiative will begin with a fleet of 50 vehicles being launched, aimed at providing a secure mode of transportation for women. Gulf News broke the story in August that the RTA would operate pink taxis, which will be deployed mainly at locations like maternity hospitals, shopping malls and other areas frequented by women.  Set apart by their pink appearance - including pink roofs, - the 'Ladies' Taxis' will not only be visibly different.

• Rights Activist Says She was Beaten Up on Orders from Police. [The Associated Press] A prominent human rights advocate in Uzbekistan said that she was attacked and beaten by a group of women she said were sent by police in retaliation for alleging rights abuses and torture in the tightly controlled ex-Soviet state. Elena Urlayeva, a longtime activist and member of the outlawed Free Peasants party, said four "burly" women attacked her on a street in the capital, Tashkent. "They made sure it was me and started punching and kicking me," Urlayeva told The Associated Press, adding that a man stood nearby and filmed the attack with a handheld video camera. "It's a politically motivated assault. It happens every time we plan pickets," she said, referring to a demonstration she and colleagues planned to hold in front of the Foreign Ministry to demand the release of what they say are political prisoners. The police refused to comment.

• Female Presence and Participation in NGOs Called “Peculiarities”. [Yemen Times, Yemen] Yemen is an exception and has peculiarities in its civil society, said the French Ambassador to Yemen, Alain Moureau at the opening session of the symposium on Civil Society, Citizenship, and Local Governance in Yemen. “The issue of civil society has become a challenge at the international level. Yemen has peculiarities in its civil society and that lies in the presence and participation of women in the non-governmental organizations,” Moureau noted. Khadija Al-Haisami, Minister of Human Rights, stressed the importance of the civil society in Yemen. The issue of civil society has gone through several phases, she said. “Civil society institutions are the outcome of historical phases, and their existence was proved by the existence of the unification in 1990.”

• Female Journalists Receive Online Training. [International Journalist's Network] The Yemeni Women Media Forum (WMF) is currently conducting a one-month online course for female journalists from different parts of Yemen. The introductory journalism course is being held by WMF in cooperation with the BBC’s iLearn online media training software. By creating user accounts, participants are able to access the training software from any computer with an Internet connection. A ceremony will be held in February to award participants who complete the training course successfully.

• No Discrimination Against Female Journalists. [Yemen Times, Yemen] Several media leaders refused the idea of ‘discrimination’ mentioned in a study about the situation of Yemeni women in media. At a workshop organized particularly to announce the study’s results, they admitted that women in media face many difficulties and obstacles; however, they agreed such difficulties result from technical, social and economic obstacles facing all media staff, not just women. The Jan. 22-23 workshop, organized by the Yemeni Female Media Forum (YFMF), in cooperation with the Yemeni Media Development Program (YMDP), was devoted to discussing results of the study, considered the first-ever public survey concerning the status of Yemeni women in media and the societal and institutional obstacles they face in doing their job. According to the study prepared by Dr. Mohammed Alfaqeh, assistant professor in the information college at Sana’a University, there are many types of discrimination against women within various media institutions. The most visible discriminatory practices against women are: few training opportunities offered them, being ignored for any coverage abroad, occasional sexual harassment and immodest treatment by male colleagues and executive and leadership positions given to male journalists, despite women deserving to ascend the hierarchy.