Shambhu Ghatak has written a report on the Workshop on Knowledge Commons (New Delhi, January 18, 2008). (Thanks to Subbiah Arunachalam.)

Of the 10,000 new HIV infections that occurred among adults worldwide in 2006, 50 per cent were among women. In sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV transmission is predominantly heterosexual, almost 60 percent of those living with HIV are women (UNAIDS, 2006). A dramatic rise in HIV prevalence among women is recognized as a consequence of gender inequality. Vulnerability to HIV is also influenced by sexuality. Stigma and discrimination of certain sexual minorities, for example men who have sex with m more...

Gender refers to socially constructed roles and learned behaviors and expectations associated with females and males. When talking about gender, people usually talk about gender inequality—women and girls having fewer opportunities in life simply because they are female. The term gender, however, also refers to boys and men, who are equally defined by the rights and roles 'assigned' to them. Giving equal rights and consideration to girls and women should not take the same away from males. Whil more...

Why the focus on youth? The majority of the world's people are under the age of 25. Many live in the world's poorest countries. To change this imbalance, the world needs your input, your understanding, your involvement. Together, we face many challenges, including finding and ensuring fair distribution of resources to: Reduce poverty; Improve nutrition; Increase access to schools and other education opportunities; Strengthen youth organizations; Promote youth participation and representation more...

Violence against women, especially domestic violence—violence, physical and sexual, committed by the male partner—is still pervasive around the world. At least one in three women is beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused by an intimate partner in the course of her lifetime, according to the UN. Gender violence often serves to enforce gender discrimination: Men often use violence to punish perceived transgressions of gender roles, to show authority, and to save honor. Violence against more...

2008 report from the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) documents U.S. investment in global female condom procurement, distribution and programming.
Although the female condom is an effective tool for HIV prevention that is available today, this method is not readily accessible throughout the world due to cost, stigma and a lack of political will. As a leading provider of funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care, and reproductive health supplies worldwide, the United States more...

Kalpana Chawla (Hindi: कल्‍पना चावला) (Punjabi: ਕਲਪਨਾ ਚਾਵਲਾ) (March 17, 1962 – February 1, 2003), was an Indian-American astronaut and space shuttle mission specialist. She was one of seven crewmembers killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

The Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education continues the work to which its namesake dedicated her life. It's from her achievements that we draw our inspiration. And our global efforts to end blindness and deafness through medical research are a result of her belief that no matter what the obstacle anything is possible.

Dr. Emeliza Rodriguez is a vibrant physician who is passionate about her work. The gynecologist and mother of three is also a pioneer in her country. She is one of the few service providers in all of Honduras trained in the country’s latest hot topic: vasectomy. EngenderHealth has been training doctors and nurses in Honduras to provide permanent and long-term contraception since the 1980s. But this year, vasectomy came to the public sector and became “sexy” based on the creation and launch more...

EngenderHealth currently sponsors 65 women—12 of them fistula survivors—to be trained as midwives throughout Sudan. These midwives will be working to prevent fistula in the remotest communities of the country, where most fistula cases occur. From Halima’s self-assured manner in the delivery room of Darfur’s Al-Fasher Hospital, an observer would never guess how far this former fistula sufferer has come. Now a certified village midwife, 25-year-old Halima assists in childbirth, saving the more...