A recent article published in The Guardian by Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, sheds light on the extraordinary challenges faced by human rights defenders in Gaza. Among the voices featured is Amal Syam, Director of the Women’s Affairs Centre (WAC) in Gaza.
For human rights defenders in Gaza, documenting violations is not only a professional responsibility but also a deeply personal experience. They continue their work while enduring the same hardships as the communities they serve—living in temporary shelters, facing repeated displacement, and struggling to secure basic necessities such as food and clean water for their families.
Reflecting on the devastating impact of the ongoing blockade and worsening food insecurity, Amal Syam shared:
“I lost so much weight I was afraid to look in the mirror. I didn’t recognize myself. How can I stand up as a human rights defender in front of people asking for flour?”
Her testimony reflects the profound challenges faced by local human rights defenders, who are called upon to support, document, and advocate for their communities while living through the same humanitarian crisis themselves.
Despite these extraordinary circumstances, Amal Syam and her colleagues at the Women’s Affairs Centre continue their essential work. Their efforts to document human rights violations contribute to international reporting, support humanitarian response efforts, and help preserve evidence that may serve future accountability processes.
Their commitment stands as a powerful reminder of the resilience and dedication of Gaza’s human rights defenders, whose work continues despite immense personal risk and hardship.
