The recent win of pro-Russian presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych signals a harsh setback for Ukraine's democracy. Current Prime Minister and opposition candidate, Yulia Tymoshenko immediately filed an appeal contesting the election on the basis of electoral fraud; however, the challenge was reluctantly dropped shortly thereafter.

Last month, the Asia Pacific Women’s Watch (APWW), a Global fund grantee since 2004, organized the AP NGO Forum on Beijing+15 in Quezon City, Philippines. Nearly 700 women and girls representing women’s movements from the Asia and Pacific Region, came together at this important convening.

At the forum, the groups reaffirmed the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) as a strategic document for women and girls empowerment, human rights, peace, human security and gender-inclusive development and as a key tool for advancing government’s commitments to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Visit the APPW's web site on Beijing +15 to listen to some of the powerful speeches and discussions that took place at the conference. Visit the Beijing+15 section of the AP NGO Forum.

Cool Resource:
Read the final declaration of the forum posted today.

The International Museum of Women, an online museum that inspires global action, and amplifies the voices and work of women worldwide, recently launched its latest exhibition on women and the global economy. Economica is a multimedia exhibition that explores the many facets of women's experiences of and contributions to the global economy. Global Fund grantees working on economic justice issues and leaders from our network, including the work of Rita Thapa from Nepal, Marketa Hronkova from the Czech Republic, and Halima Oulami from Morocco, are featured in this dynamic exhibition.

Visit the exhibition

A news report shared by GFW grantee, Women Living Under Muslim Laws , sheds light on the political situation in Lebanon:

Read the transcript of a powerful and inspiring speech delivered last week by Global Fund CEO and President Kavita Ramdas at the Professional Business Women’s Association, San Francisco.

Read a report produced by the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights (ECWR), a Global Fund grantee partner since 1997. Based in Cairo, ECWR raises awareness on women's legal rights and also holds consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Download the report [pdf]

Visit the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights' web site (Arabic).

Read a report released on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Women and girls in Iraq are suffering from systematic violence and a sustained assault on their human rights. In addition to being victims of the bombings and other attacks that put so many Iraqis in danger every day, they are also being targeted specifically because of their gender.

Foreign Policy In Focus — In the silver lining to the devastating economic crisis, critiques of excessive military spending are now beginning to echo around Capitol Hill and throughout mainstream media. Federal budget priorities — and the billions of dollars tied up in the military budget — are coming under much wider scrutiny. For years, the National Priorities Project, WAND (Women's Action for New Directions), and War Resisters League have calculated the tradeoffs for military spending with readable pie charts, diagrams, and interactive websites to educate and empower ordinary people to take part in this policy debate.