The pressure on young women to 'be it all' and 'have it all' is at times overwhelming. Cleo journalist Candice Chung talks to Virginia Haussegger about why girls and young women are so tough on themselves. (Click PDF to continue ...)

The 13th Canberra International Film Festival has a new President, Virginia Haussegger, and a new Artistic Director, Simon Weaving, so 'look out' - something new is coming to town ... (click PDF to continue)

With over 20 years experience in broadcast journalism, Virginia Haussegger has lived her life in the public eye ...  (click PDF to continue).

(Photo: Virginia Haussegger, Julie Posetti, Prof Hilary Charlesworth, Dr Sharkira Hussein)

On the 27th June 2009, Virginia's weekly column in The Canberra Times called for a ban on women wearing the Burqa and the Niquab in Australia. The public response was immediate, loud and vigorous. with numerous letters to the Editor and callers to talkback radio wanting to debate the issue. Many agreed with Virginia and many clearly didn't. In response to the outcry The Australian National University convened a public forum. With limited seating, the event sold out immediately. The forum was broadcast by ABC Fora ( ... click here for broadcast )

"Mahboba's Promise" by Virginia Haussegger, 7.30 Report, ABC TV

Transcript.

After almost three decades of bloody conflict, Afghanistan has one of the highest rates of widowhood in the world, and more than one and half million orphans. It takes a brave woman to roll up her sleeves and dedicate her life to fixing the problem. Sydney woman Mahboba Rawi travelled Australia raising money to feed, house and support the orphans and widows of Afghanistan. Last month she returned to her homeland after a two year absence, only to find life on the streets is tougher than ever.  (Video)

"I've always been passionately interested in the issue of Islam and gender and the treatment of women, and I've written about that quiet a number of times," says Virginia ( continue ... )

Virginia interviewed on ABC TV Stateline by Melissa Polimeni. (Video). (Transcript)