France boosts women politicians
The French cabinet has approved a proposal to encourage parties to promote more women into politics. Ministers are hoping to get the bill passed into law before next year's presidential and general polls, though it will not take effect till 2008. It aims to ensure women are represented in local and regional governments. It comes as Ségolène Royal, the Socialists' candidate, is bidding to win next year's election and become France's first female president…France introduced a law in 2000 aimed at creating parity between the sexes in parliament. The law says all parties must either ensure that 50% of their candidates in nay poll are women, or face financial penalties. Only 12.2% of French MPs are women,which puts France in 84th place in a global table of 135 ountries, according to data compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
BBC News - 28 november 2006

International Call for Action to Combat Violence Against Women
The United Nations, governments and humanitarian organizations are calling for stepped up action to combat violence against women. To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, activists are demanding that countries enact and enforce legislation against a wide range of abuse from rape to wife battering. Women's rights campaigners agree there is no region of the world, no country and no culture in which women are free from violence. They say acts of violence against women are among the most important obstacles to the advancement of women and are a fundamental violation of their basic human rights. Kareen Jabre, an official at the Inter-Parliamentary Union - an organization of 148 national parliaments, says tradition and culture often act as stumbling blocks to women's rights. She notes violence against women exists everywhere. It is a cross cutting issue…
News Voice of America Com - 25 november 2006