Nobel Women's Initiative

Evo Morales opened his second term as President of Bolivia by appointing a cabinet comprised of 10 men and 10 women.

The unprecedented commitment to gender parity was warmly welcomed by women’s groups and activists across the country–whose support played an integral role in the socialist president’s rise to power.

The Nobel Women's Initiative is supporting women's groups who are urging the African Union to make good on their promise to put women front and centre in peace plans. African heads of state officially launched the "Year for Peace and Security" at the 14th African Union Summit, coming to an end today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Iranian Government is continuing its campaign of intimidating activists, arresting thousands. Many of the detainees are women, who seemingly vanish into Iranian prisons without a trace. The security and intelligence forces justify their actions using a blanket detention order, which gives agents the license to arrest anyone at will.

The Christian Science Monitor has published an opinion piece by Wangari Maathai regarding her support for the Report of the African Union High-Level Panel on Darfur (AUPD). Maathai states the report "is a genuine attempt at African solutions for the Darfur problem in particular and conflict within Sudan more broadly."

Read the Article.

In an open letter to Iranian President Ahmadi Nejad, 14 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates condemn Iran's intimidation of Shirin Ebadi and other Iranian activists. The letter was signed by Wangari Maathai, Jody Williams, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, His Holiness The Dalai Lama, F.W. de Klerk, and 9 other Nobel Peace Laureates. The letter warns Ahmadi Nejad's government that the crackdown on opposition will not end the demands for human rights.

Read the letter.

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