Aid Workers Released

On October 18th, two female aid workers were released from their kidnappers in Darfur after 7 months in capture. Hilda Kawuki and Sharon Commins, workers for Irish GOAL were welcomed by the top United Nations humanitarian official, Sudan Ameera Haq in Sudan last week. Their release reminds us of the violent conflict in Darfur that began in 2003 and continues to wage today. To learn more about the conflict in Darfur and how we can help, visit Oxfam.

Looking Ahead

As the American Administration debates how to proceed with the controversial war in Afghanistan, several journalists and activists are weighing in on how the different strategies will effect Afghan women. Jill Lawrence, a columnist for Politics Daily believes that no matter how many US troops are sent to the country, it will not influence the way that the Taliban treat women. Esther Hyneman, a board member of Women for Afghan Women, believes that a strong US presence in Afghanistan is the only way that women can improve their status in society. There is no doubt that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Ambassador at Large to Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer, are incorporating women’s issues into their foreign policy. We trust that they will continue their crucial efforts to improve the global condition of women in this country where it is so desperately needed.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the four female recipients of the Nobel Prize: Carol Greider and Elisabeth Blackburn, scientists who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine, Ada Yonath, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, and Herta Muller, who received the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Last week's announcement marked the first time in history that multiple women received the Nobel prize in Science - quite the accomplishment!

Maternal Death Rate in India Amongst Highest in the World

Every year, about 78,000 mothers die in childbirth and from complications of pregnancy in India, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Largely due to lack of qualified medical experts, be them midwives, doctors, or nurses, impoverished women in rural India are suffering and dying everyday. Lack of education is also a crucial component to this disturbing statistic. The average age of mothers in India is 17 years of age- and the majority of these mothers have had no formal education concerning reproduction. Lack of nutrients and anemia are also important factors contributing to the maternal death rate.