I attended the closing session of the Gulf Cooperation Councils (GCC) Summit in Abu Dhabi this year. As all the delegates arrived and were seated I would estimate at least a total of 60 people, I could not help but observe, from all the government delegations present, we were 10 women in attendance as part of these delegations. A clear reminder of the gender gap in our region.

Embattled Russian civil society activists were full of rare praise for Microsoft today, which has stepped in to protect nongovernmental groups (NGOs) and independent journalists who experience official harassment.

Hillary Clinton is back in Vietnam, again. This is the secretary of state's second visit in four months, itself following a high-level visit two weeks ago by Robert Gates, U.S. secretary of defense. This time Clinton is in town for the East Asia Summit.

As the field of public diplomacy expands, there is a great need to engage with the diverse actors who shape the discipline in theory as well as practice. Like any emerging discipline, public diplomacy can be referenced in a number of different publications, but having a forum entirely dedicated to this one subject is immensely beneficial.

APDS Blogger: Tala Mohebi

The fifth annual meeting of the Arab-European Human Rights Dialogue opened on Monday in the Qatari capital Doha, Qatar. Hosted by the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in Qatar the conference brings together human rights activists from the Arab and European countries to discuss women’s rights.

The Gay Games began in 1982 and are meant to provide a safe space for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender athletes to compete while still being open about their sexual and gender identities.