Behind the News – serie

Go behind the headlines to explore the wider background of news stories that are making a major impact across the world. In Hostage-takers, we ask who are today's hostage-takers and what do they want? What drives them to extreme action? We look at how captivity and stress affect the victims and ask whether we should negotiate with hostage-takers. How can lives be saved and how can hostage-taking be prevented in the first place?

Go behind the headlines to explore the wider background of news stories that are making a major impact across the world. In Race and Crime, we ask why headlines often link these issues and question some assumptions. Are some crimes carried out by one ethnic or racial grouping more than by others? What parts do policing, prisons, the immigration system and the media play? We examine abuse and hate crimes linked to race, such as slavery or genocide. Who are the perpetrators and who are the victims?

Go behind the headlines to explore the wider background of news stories that are making a major impact across the world. In Violence Against Women we ask why so many women across the world are victims of violence, from domestic abuse and rape to forced abortions, female genital mutilation and murder. Why does it happen, who are the perpetrators and what can be done to stop it happening?