On 31 January 2012, International IDEA, in collaboration with the Women Caucus of the Constituent Assembly (CA) of Nepal, CA Secretariat and Nepal Law Society launched the book Women Members of the Constituent Assembly: A study on contribution of women in constitution making in Nepal, in Kathmandu. Available in English and Nepali, it includes stories of political journeys of 197 women CA members, reflecting their struggles, their hopes and their perseverance in bringing equality to Nepali society.

The elected women members comprise almost 33 percent of the 601 members and include seasoned politicians, women activists, professionals, former combatants, spouses of martyrs, and young women starting their political careers. Whatever their background, they have made their contribution to the constitution drafting process. Their contributions in the CA have, however, remained largely unrecognized.

Giving a push to the people-to-people contact between India and Pakistan, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar is set to visit Islamabad for a five-day visit from February 21. Top officials claim this will be the first-ever official visit by an Indian LS speaker to Pakistan's National Assembly. Kumar's trip is aimed to forge better ties between the two parliaments and the people across the border.

Both India and Pakistan currently have women speakers in their Parliament's lower house.

The Timorese-born Australian Angelita Pires recently declared her nomination in East Timor's Presidential election and is now preparing to begin her campaign. Pires says she's running to address problems in the justice system and to help provide universal access to justice.

"My candidacy was mostly due to the request of many, many people, many poor people and many of those youths and women who felt that they don't have access to justice and they felt that they wanted a change. Until today they insist that they want a new face and new ideas," said Peres in this interview.

An elections panel Monday affirmed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's candidacy for Myanmar's Parliament in another step toward political openness in a country emerging from nearly a half-century of iron-fisted military rule.

A victory in the April 1 by-elections would be historic. Suu Kyi could have a voice in Parliament for the first time after spending most of the last two decades under house arrest.

A National League for Democracy spokesman confirmed the commission had approved her candidacy. "There is no objection to her nomination and we can say that her candidacy is officially accepted," Nyan Win said.

The National Assembly in Pakistan passed a new bill unanimously on January 19 to protect women’s rights in the region,allowing the work of Pakistan’s National Commission for Women to have ‘more teeth.’ The new bill is expected to pass easily through Pakistan’s Senate.

The goal for the bill is to hold back the tide in the growing incidence of domestic violence, honor crimes and acid violence in the Pakistan regions. Basic human rights for women under the law and in court will also be an important part of the goal as the National Commission for Women. Once the bill has been approved by the Senate, the Commission will be given the freedom to act as an autonomous agency with the power to inspect conditions for women in prison. It will also be given the power to act on complaints of justice against women in civil court.

Korea has been accepted to chair United Nations Women, the U.N.’s entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, according to U.N. officials.

As the chair, Korea will oversee regular sessions within the country twice a year, which will determine key issues for the U.N. entity including budget and organization.

Gender Equality Minister Kim Kum-lae says this will give Korea the opportunity to showcase its place on the international stage as a leader in progress for women.

Pooja Gujjar is the deputy “sarpanch” – Hindi for leader – of her school’s Bal Panchayat in the village of Chaudhula, Viratnagar, Rajasthan, and she’s 11 years old. The Bal, or “children’s” Panchayat, is promoted by non-profit organizations across India to encourage children in rural areas to improve their own lives, as well as work with the Gram Panchayat to implement their initiatives.

Pooja’s experience in the Bal Panchayat holds real potential. The 73rd Amendment, which was implemented in 1993 to give constitutional mandate to the Panchayat system, requires that no less than one-third of all seats be reserved for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and women. The amendment has given women, in particular lower caste women, the impetus and government support to seek power in a patriarchal society, where women have historically played a subservient role, not least of all in politics.