Lizzie Porter is a Beirut-based freelance journalist, with a focus on Syria and Lebanon. She has special interests in displaced populations, imprisonment and women’s issues. Read more of her work at lizzieporter.wordpress.com and follow her @lcmporter. https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/contributor/lizzie-porter/rss en Human Rights Wed, 20 Dec 2017 11:55:33 +0000 Lizzie Porter https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/12/20/a-bureaucracy-of-violence-in-syrias-military-intelligence-run-prisons https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/12/20/a-bureaucracy-of-violence-in-syrias-military-intelligence-run-prisons Syrian military intelligence-run detention centers are responsible for some of the worst crimes committed by the security apparatus. Their highly bureaucratic operations, however, have helped build bodies of evidence against high-level officials. Crisis and Conflict Gender-Based Violence Fri, 24 Nov 2017 03:00:03 +0000 Lizzie Porter https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/11/24/20-years-after-bosnian-war-rape-survivors-still-live-with-trauma https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2017/11/24/20-years-after-bosnian-war-rape-survivors-still-live-with-trauma Former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic has been convicted of crimes committed during the 1990s Bosnian conflict, including mass rapes by his troops. The survivors of sexual violence from that time still endure mental and physical health problems today. Opposition Groups & Rebel Forces Thu, 05 Oct 2017 10:28:18 +0000 Lizzie Porter https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/10/05/analysis-unified-rebel-army-is-too-little-too-late https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/10/05/analysis-unified-rebel-army-is-too-little-too-late After months of defeats, Syria’s opposition is trying to unite under the umbrella of a national army to fight pro-government forces. But internal divisions, the geographic distribution of rebel groups and involvement of foreign powers undermine its chance of success. Equal Pay and Opportunity Tue, 27 Jun 2017 08:00:20 +0000 Lizzie Porter https://www.newsdeeply.com/womensadvancement/articles/2017/06/27/on-the-path-to-financial-security-palestinian-women-offering-homestays https://www.newsdeeply.com/womensadvancement/articles/2017/06/27/on-the-path-to-financial-security-palestinian-women-offering-homestays In the West Bank, opportunities for women are few, and they suffer higher unemployment rates than men. But one community initiative based on a famous hiking trail is offering a chance for women to welcome tourists, sharing their experiences and culture along the way. Health Fri, 24 Feb 2017 14:12:32 +0000 Lizzie Porter https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/02/24/a-syrian-amputees-life-in-the-borderlands-2 https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/02/24/a-syrian-amputees-life-in-the-borderlands-2 At least 30,000 Syrians have lost limbs in the war, according to conservative estimates. Among them is Husam al-Zeno who escaped Eastern Ghouta using prosthetic legs made for a young girl and now manages an aid distribution center for fellow refugees in Turkey. Health Fri, 24 Feb 2017 14:05:07 +0000 Lizzie Porter https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/02/24/a-syrian-amputees-life-in-the-borderlands https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/02/24/a-syrian-amputees-life-in-the-borderlands At least 30,000 Syrians have lost limbs in the war, according to conservative estimates. Among them is Husam al-Zeno who escaped Eastern Ghouta using prosthetic legs made for a young girl and now manages an aid distribution center for fellow refugees in Turkey. Thu, 09 Feb 2017 07:47:48 +0000 Lizzie Porter https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/02/09/syrian-safety-is-an-unlikely-priority-in-trumps-plan-for-safe-zones https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/02/09/syrian-safety-is-an-unlikely-priority-in-trumps-plan-for-safe-zones Several big questions remain about President Donald Trump’s possible policy for safe zones in Syria, but any plan will shift the dynamics of the conflict and risks creating deeper divisions in the country’s political and social landscape. Civil Society Human Rights Thu, 22 Dec 2016 13:00:41 +0000 Lizzie Porter https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2016/12/22/shamed-and-abandoned-the-fate-of-syrias-female-ex-inmates https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2016/12/22/shamed-and-abandoned-the-fate-of-syrias-female-ex-inmates Women being held in Syria’s government prisons report psychological abuse, sexual assault and torture. But for many, the emotional and physical suffering they experience after their release is even worse. Crisis and Conflict Thu, 22 Dec 2016 12:33:24 +0000 Lizzie Porter https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/12/22/shamed-abandoned-fate-syrias-female-ex-inmates https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/12/22/shamed-abandoned-fate-syrias-female-ex-inmates Women being held in Syria’s government prisons report psychological abuse, sexual assault and torture. But for many, the emotional and physical suffering they experience after their release is even worse. Crisis and Conflict Tue, 29 Nov 2016 14:36:54 +0000 Lizzie Porter https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/11/29/many-ugly-scenes-staying-save-lives-aleppo https://www.newsdeeply.com/womenandgirls/articles/2016/11/29/many-ugly-scenes-staying-save-lives-aleppo As the Syrian regime and Russia intensify their bombing of Aleppo, activist and aid worker Zein al-Sham says she refuses to leave the besieged city, even after spending 14 months in prison and years witnessing the unforgettable horrors of war.