Too many times this year, the world has come together in mourning.We grieved for the 130 people killed in the November terror attacks in Paris. The world also mourned the hundreds of other people who were victims of similar attacks in Beirut, Mali, and elsewhere. Many of us felt powerless when faced with images of the thousands of people who died and many more who lost everything when a devastating earthquake struck Nepal.
The world woke up to the gravity of the refugee crisis when images of a teeny Syrian toddler who drowned as his family tried to make it to Greece were published on front pages around the world. We learned the personal stories of some of the millions of other refugees risking their lives as they fled conflict and persecution in their home countries. We remembered those whose lives were forever changed when the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki 70 years ago.
But 2015 was also filled with moments of celebration, triumph, and progress. The world proved that love can beat terror as we came together to #prayforparis and rallied behind calls for tolerance and peace. Brave, admirable women led the charge on important issues around the world, earning major kudos along the way.
Nations large and small agreed on a landmark plan to tackle climate change. We met strong refugee women whose resilience in the toughest of circumstances inspired us. Canada's young, new leader opened the country's arms to other refugee families in need. And a new English princess was born.
Through it all, striking photography connected us with moments of sorrow and joy around the globe. Ahead, a collection of images that captured some of the biggest stories to shape the world in 2015.
Editor's note: Some of the images may be disturbing to some readers. The Associated Press and Getty Images contributed to the captions to this report.
The refugee crisis reached heartbreaking new levels in 2015. A record number of migrants and refugees fleeing homes destroyed by conflict and violence has had political and social implications worldwide. In this photo, refugees arrive on the shores of the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey on an inflatable boat on October 1. For Refinery29's coverage of the human beings behind the headlines of the crisis, read more here.
Migrant families move through fields after crossing from Croatia, in Rigonce, Slovenia, on October 25.
This view from Puerto Varas, in southern Chile, shows a high column of ash and lava spewing from the Calbuco volcano on April 23. The volcano spewed a giant funnel of ash high into the sky near the southern port city of Puerto Montt, triggering a Red Alert.
Great Britain — and the world — celebrated the birth of a new princess in 2015. In this photo, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, leave the hospital with newborn Princess Charlotte. Charlotte, born on May 2, is fourth in line to the throne.
A police officer investigates the scene before carrying the lifeless body of 3-year-old Alan Kurdi (whose name was initially reported as "Aylan") from the seashore, near the beach resort of Bodrum, Turkey, on September 2. This photo of the child was featured in media reports around the world, sparking a new round of concern over the worsening refugee crisis. Refinery29 did not take the choice to run the image lightly, but we felt it was important to draw attention to the fact that the world is experiencing the worst refugee crisis since World War II.
The USA's Carli Lloyd (No. 10) celebrates a goal she scored against Japan with teammates during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup final. A record-breaking 750 million people worldwide tuned in for the soccer tournament.
Rescue workers remove debris as they search for victims of an earthquake in Bhaktapur near Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 26. Thousands died when a strong temblor shook the capital.
Emergency rescue workers carry a victim on a stretcher after Dharahara Tower collapsed during the April earthquake that shook Nepal. The massive quake caused buildings to collapse and avalanches to be triggered in the Himalayas.
A woman grieves as she lays flowers at the beach next to the Imperial Marhaba Hotel in Sousse, Tunisia, where 38 people were killed in a June 27 terrorist attack.
The slaying of a beloved Zimbabwean lion named Cecil by an American dentist sparked international outrage and a debate over trophy hunting in Africa. But authorities found that Dr. Walter Palmer, a big-game hunter from Minnesota who paid a guide to lead the hunt, did not violate any laws. This stencil art design on the sidewalk in Santa Barbara, CA, was done in protest of the practice.
Pope Francis gestures as he gives his blessing during a trip to the conflict-ridden Central African Republic. He visited a camp for people displaced by conflict there as part of his three-nation Africa tour.
A Saudi woman casts her ballot during the country's municipal elections. Saudi women were allowed to vote— and run for office — for the first time ever, in a tentative step toward easing widespread sex discrimination in the ultraconservative kingdom. Read more here about how one member of the royal family, Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al-Saud, is making big strides for women.
An anti-government protester throws a Molotov cocktail during clashes with police in Kiev, Ukraine. Violent conflicts rocked the country at the start of the year.
This year marked a momentous shift in relations between the United States and Cuba, as the two nations restored diplomatic relations. In this July photo, a vintage car with U.S. flags drives by the newly reopened U.S. embassy in Havana.
Canadian voters shook up the country's political system, delivering a landslide victory to Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau. The win by the young, charismatic leader brought an end to a decade of conservative rule. Trudeau continued to make headlines in the first months of his term as prime minister, championing gender balance in politics, pot legalization, and a welcoming embrace of Syrian refugees.
A Peace Message Lantern Floating Ceremony is held in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome to console the souls of victims of the bombings. August 6 marked the 70th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, an attack that killed an estimated 70,000 civilians instantly. Thousands more died in the following years from the effects of radiation. Read the story of a woman who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima here. Three days later, another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, ending World War II. Read the story of a second-generation survivor from Nagasaki here.
Migrants and refugees desperately try to board a train heading for Zagreb from Croatia's Tovarnik station on September 20.
The situation in Syria continued to deteriorate, four years into a civil war that has forced millions from their homes. The United States and Russia, among other nations, began airstrikes amid growing concerns over the rise of the Islamic State terror group. This photograph taken in Turkey shows smoke rising from the Syrian border town of Kobani following the U.S.-led coalition airstrikes against ISIS. Hear more from women fighting on the front line to provide humanitarian aid inside Syria here. Read the stories of some of the women who have fled Syria's civil war to rebuild their lives in Turkey here.
Rescue workers conduct a search operation near the site of the Germanwings plane crash near the French Alps. All 150 passengers and crew were killed when the co-pilot of Germanwings flight 4U9525 from Barcelona to Düsseldorf intentionally crashed the plane into the Alps.
Angela Merkel speaks with Barack Obama during the G7 summit. Time named Merkel its "Person of the Year" for 2015, calling the German chancellor "Europe's most powerful leader." She is the first woman to win that distinction from the magazine in 30 years.
Pope Francis calls on world leaders to fight poverty, climate change, and other issues facing society during an address to the General Assembly of the United Nations. The pontiff addressed the UNGA this year as part of his first trip to the United States.
South African police forces charge at students during a protest against university fee hikes in October. South African President Jacob Zuma abandoned proposed hikes to university tuition following the #feesmustfall student demonstrations.
A melting planet in an ice cream cone is held up during the Global Climate March on the eve of the official opening of the 195-nation U.N. climate summit in Paris. After two weeks of negotiations, the countries signed a landmark agreement aimed at curbing the effects of climate change in the decades to come.
Demonstrators gather for a unity rally in Paris following the January 11 terrorist attacks on the offices of magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket. Twelve people were killed in the attacks at the satirical magazine. Four more died during a hostage situation at the market.
Just 11 months later, Paris was again reeling at the hands of terrorists. The body of a victim of the November 13 terror attacks lies dead outside the Bataclan theater.
The Eiffel Tower is illuminated in blue, white, and red in honor of the 130 victims of the Paris attacks. Hundreds more were injured in the coordinated assaults across the city. Read more about how Parisians came together in the face of hate here.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
China To End One-Child Policy
110 Journalists Were Killed Worldwide In 2015: Report
The Country Where The Ebola Outbreak Started Is Now Free Of The Virus: WHO