The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today announced that – for the first time – Syrians are now the largest refugee population under its mandate. This finding is part of UNHCR’s Mid-Year Trends 2014 report.This report shows that 5.5 million people – due to war and conflict – became newly displaced during the first six months of 2014. Taking into account several factors, UNHCR says the number of people it helps stood at 46.3 million as of mid-2014. This number is 3.4 million more than at the end of 2013 and is a record high.

On March 8, the international community marks International Women’s Day. This special occasion recognizes the incredible advancements and achievements of women worldwide. As part of CVT’s observance of International Women’s Day, we’d like to introduce you to women who are leaders in human rights. Here’s an interview with Darine El Hage, a human rights lawyer and activist. She previously worked with New Tactics in Human Rights, a program of CVT.