Nobel Women's Initiative

Cambodian women are joining with politician and rights defender Mu Sochua in a fight for judicial reform. Mu Sochua, a sitting member of parliament, has exhausted her appeals against a conviction for defaming the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen.

The case stems from comments made by the Prime Minister about Mu Sochua, which were derogatory to her as a woman. When she announced her intention to sue him for defamation, she herself was convicted of defaming the Prime Minister.

Wangari Maathai is calling on the African Union to recognize the vital role of women in the ongoing Sudan peace process at the summit in Kampala, Uganda later this month.

In an opinion editorial published in Daily Dispatch and the Deccan Herald, Maathai urges African leaders to ensure that women play a key role in the upcoming referendum on the secession of Southern Sudan.

Read the full editorial

International outcry saved a 43-year-old Iranian woman from death by stoning last week, but her life remains in jeopardy. Iranian officials announced on Friday that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani would not be stoned, but she may still be executed by other means.

Women activists, politicians, and celebrities mobilized this week calling for Ashtiani's release and an end to stoning. Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi, online publisher Arianna Huffington, and Yoko Ono joined an urgent online petition that recieved close to 1,000 signatures per hour on Thursday night.

 The Nobel Women’s Initiative has issued a statement expressing concern for the situation of human rights in Guatemala, and reaffirming the Laureates support for the International Commission to End Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).

The declaration of solidarity follows the resignation of CICIG’s Commissioner, Carlos Castresana, whose work exposing human rights abuses jeopardized his security. Castresana was highly respected both by Guatemalans and the international community.