Progress made in reducing violence against children
A United Nations survey has found that many countries are developing recommendations to reduce violence against children. The author of the survey says there is “a lot of political will” in each country to address the problem of violence. United Nations

India welcomes Pakistani earthquake plan
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has offered to open the Line of Control (LOC) which divides Kashmir. The opening of the LOC will allow families to look for their loved ones following the October 8 earthquake, and will also assist in reconstruction efforts. BBC

Asylum seekers found to be refugees
25 of the 27 remaining asylum seekers detained by the Australian government on a camp in Nauru will be allowed to enter Australia. The detainees, who have been on the island for four years, had their cases reviewed following an independent report which warned of further deterioration in the mental health of those in the camp. The Age

Women’s rights necessary to end poverty
An end to global poverty can only be achieved if governments free women from the inequality and poverty they experience because of cultural confines in many countries. The UN Population Fund’s annual report says that action must be taken to redress maternal mortality and improve illiteracy and education for women. Guardian

Unending disaster
Natural disasters bring many challenges and the earthquake in Pakistan is no exception. Along with a shortage of helicopters, tents and blankets, this event highlights other problematic responses to global disaster such as selectivity on the part of donor governments and limitations in the UN’s emergency responses. Guardian

Australian brothels and sexual slavery
“….the Australian Government is asking these women to testify against their exploiters and then forcing them to return to a country where their own lives and those of their families would be in serious danger. This is not protection we are offering them, except in the sense implied by the term “protection racket”.
How different is it - morally - from the attitude of the traffickers who discard their victims once they’re no longer pretty, or are too diseased to continue work?” Vicki Dunne

Vote in a poll about sexual slavery which will be presented in the Senate: Click Here

Conflict Resolution Network
This network aims to create a conflict-resolving community by building stronger and more cohesive organisations and more rewarding relationships. The freely downloadable material on this site includes a skills training manual, a conflict-resolving game, a study guide and guides for government and media.
http://www.crnhq.org/

" China Girl" - Cutting Edge
This documentary explores the implications of China’s ‘one child’ policy which was introduced to stabilise the population but has resulted in over 500,000 abortions in the country and the murder of many baby girls. The program also looks at related issues including the rejection of traditional roles by professional women, a lack of women in the provinces and a huge increase in China’s crime rate.

SBS TV, Tuesday November 1, 8pm

Here’s what to do during war
“Children, everybody, here's what to do during war:
In a time of destruction, create something.
A poem.
A parade.
A community.
A school.
A vow.
A moral principle.
One peaceful moment.”
- Maxine Hong Kingston