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An estimated 100,000 people have died in the Syrian civil war including women, children, and other innocent bystanders. Chemical weaponry creates a different psychological aspect of immense fear that other weapons do not. It's terrifying because you can't see it or smell before it hits you. The weapons kill in minutes and are indiscriminate.

This article was written during International Women's day, and describes what has been achieved to help equality. Before March 2000, no Egyptian women could file for a divorce expect if she could convince the courts that she has suffered physically or psychologically abuse from the husband. Now, women in Egypt have the advent of 'Khul' (no-fault divorce), though it did not truly help the women of Egypt.

This is such a controversial topic. I saw a reference to it recently (was it possibly something that was brought up in the Bill Maher/Ben Affleck dust-up?) that pointed out that the practice is almost unheard of outside of central and northeastern Africa, with a few small pockets in Iraq and the Gulf.

Why is there particular revulsion over such attacks versus conventional warfare? The population feels they can do nothing to protect themselves. Chemical weapons are invisible and indiscriminate killers than could affect anyone at any time. The fear can even cause symptoms that aren't real.

This was an article (originally published by the Independent, however, I found it on their website via my first article from the BBC) by the International Center for the Study of Radicalization and Political Violence of London. The article suggests, allowing fighters to return home safely and enroll in a De-radicalization program would be more beneficial than current policies of severe punishment (prison, stripping of citizenship, etc.). The authors contend current repercussions for fighters returning to their home countries leave them trapped and isolated and prison sentences often lead to further radicalization. Overall this article really captured my attention in its non-conventional proposal for governments to handle these situations.

The fighting in Syria and Iraq has expanded and gained more foreign fighters from many more countries around the world. 

(CNN) -- Airstrikes against ISIS militants are a "psychological operation," not a military one, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told CNN's Christiane Amanpour in an interview that aired Friday. "It is a common threat for all of us," he said. "And this requires a unison effort from all of us."

The effects of FGM is presented. Some effects include intense bleeding, menstrual problems as well as problems with giving birth.

I enjoyed this article because it uses terminology that is not typically associated with this topic. The author compares Egyptian women to zombies, stating that they must "play-dead" or be "obliterated and shunned."

Millions of women, children, and men fall victim to modern day slavery especially in the Middle East. Syria was listed as the worst offender in 2012. Victims of human trafficking suffer physical, mental, and emotional abuse while they are taken prisoner.