As a child abuse and domestic violence prevention advocate, it probably makes sense that my days and news — and therefore my writing — are filled with sad stories. When I make a snide comment that I’m sick or angry about something, it’s because I am. So how does one go about being immersed in horror stories and come out feeling like you have made a difference? I think it is crucial to take a step back once and a while and breathe. Our women’s rights stories aren’t just fodder for thought, or something just to get our two-cents out there. These issues cut me to the core and if I believed nothing could change, I wouldn’t be doing this. The petitions, the letters, the campaigns — it’s about taking power into your hands and using your voice to make a difference. After Elham Madhin al Assi, the 12-year-old Yemeni child bride who due to severe hemorrhaging died last month, people did take action. Continue reading...