UN aided 38,000 victims of Syrian gender-based violence in 2013
Data is hard to collect because victims are often too scared or ashamed to seek help, so any figures are widely assumed to be a small sample of a bigger problem
Eyeing Syria talks, Iran may put Assad ties in play
SYRIA-CRISIS/IRAN=2:Eyeing Syria talks, Iran may put Assad ties in play
Free Syrian Army fighters prepare homemade rockets in Latakia countryside
Free Syrian Army fighters prepare homemade rockets in Latakia countryside January 7, 2014. Picture taken January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Khattab Abdulaa (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Free Syrian Army fighters prepare homemade rockets in Latakia countryside
Free Syrian Army fighters prepare homemade rockets in Latakia countryside January 7, 2014. Picture taken January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Khattab Abdulaa (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Free Syrian Army fighters prepare homemade rockets in Latakia countryside
Free Syrian Army fighters prepare homemade rockets in Latakia countryside January 7, 2014. Picture taken January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Khattab Abdulaa (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
A Free Syrian Army fighter arranges homemade rockets in Latakia countryside
A Free Syrian Army fighter arranges homemade rockets in Latakia countryside January 7, 2014. Picture taken January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Khattab Abdulaa (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
A Free Syrian Army fighter is seen with his daughters in Latakia countryside
A Free Syrian Army fighter is seen with his daughters in Latakia countryside January 7, 2014. Picture taken January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Khattab Abdulaa (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Two Swedish journalists held in Syria set free
SYRIA-CRISIS/JOURNALISTS:Two Swedish journalists held in Syria set free
Rebel fighters walk at the former stronghold of fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), after it was captured by them in Aleppo
Rebel fighters walk at the former stronghold of fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), after it was captured by them in Aleppo January 8, 2014. Five days of heavy rebel infighting has shaken the al Qaeda-linked faction, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which lost its main base in the northern city of Aleppo to rival rebels on Wednesday, according to a monitoring group. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)