By; Mary Kimani
Hayet Laouni is a member of Tunisia's senate and an owner of her own maritime business. She credits her success to the liberal approach to women's rights that the government has shown since independence, and to its investment in education. "I am very grateful to my country," she says. "I was born and grew up in a part of the world where life is supposed to be hard for most people, but harder for women. In fact, I come from two parts of the world, Africa and the Arab Muslim world."

By: Naunidhi Kaur
Toronto, Sep 03 (News Network/WFS)-Women's participation in the salaried workforce has been steadily increasing in Canada since the 1960s. However, the facile image of a well-dressed career girl, complete with a perfect chignon, tailored dress suit and high heals, hides a reality that is diametrically different.

Reality is closer to what Toronto-based single mom Nicole Gorden, 39, has been living after the end of her decade-long abusive marriage. Gorden has two kids and works two part-time jobs to pay for the mounting bills. And despite holding down her job as a personal support worker for which she earns a minimum wage of nine dollars (US$1=CA$1.01) an hour, she takes classes at a community college for a diploma in social service to better her prospects. "I literally have to work around the clock to put bread on the table," says a very exhausted Gorden. "Getting a degree is important for me if I want to earn more and get out of the rut of part -time jobs," she adds.

By Ruby Amable for WOMEC

“Without peace, development is impossible and without women, neither peace nor development can take place” WPP

The Africa Desk of the Women Peacemakers Program (WPP) has been launched in Accra, Ghana, to help equip African women peacemakers and activists to promote gender sensitive active non-violence to transform societies for peace. WPP is an affiliate of the International Fellowship for Reconciliation (IFOR), a peace movement based in the Netherlands and committed to active non-violence to transform unjust political, social and economic injustices.