Gaza – Palestine
Amal Syam, Director General of the Women’s Affairs Center in Gaza, participated in a high-level webinar organized by ActionAid Palestine in partnership with Alianza por la Solidaridad, focusing on Women, Peace, and Security under UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
The webinar brought together Palestinian and international experts to discuss the impact of ongoing conflict, occupation, and humanitarian crises on Palestinian women and girls across the occupied territories, including Gaza and the West Bank. The discussion highlighted the urgent need to strengthen women’s participation in peacebuilding processes and ensure accountability in protecting civilians under international law.
Women’s realities under occupation
During the session, Amal Syam highlighted the complex and deteriorating humanitarian situation faced by women in Gaza. She emphasized that prolonged blockade conditions, repeated escalations of violence, and worsening socio-economic conditions have significantly limited women’s access to safety, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
She also stressed that these conditions continue to restrict women’s participation in public life and decision-making processes, while increasing their vulnerability to poverty and gender-based violence. According to Syam, these structural challenges undermine the core principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for the full inclusion of women in peace and security processes.
Strengthening women’s role in peacebuilding
The webinar further underscored the importance of recognizing Palestinian women not only as victims of conflict, but as active agents of resilience, advocacy, and social change. Speakers emphasized the need for international actors to support meaningful women’s participation in peacebuilding, reconstruction, and humanitarian response efforts.
Discussions also called for stronger global accountability mechanisms to ensure the protection of women and girls living under prolonged crises and occupation, and to guarantee their rights in line with international humanitarian law.
Amal Syam contribution to women’s rights advocacy
Amal Syam’s participation reflects her long-standing commitment to advancing women’s rights and strengthening the role of Palestinian women in civil society and humanitarian action. Through her leadership at the Women’s Affairs Center, she continues to amplify the voices of women in Gaza and advocate for gender-responsive policies in times of crisis.
Her contribution to the webinar reaffirms her position as one of the leading Palestinian voices working on women’s empowerment, protection, and inclusion in peace and security frameworks.
