Amal Syam (activist)

Amal Nemer Hassan Syam
آمال صيام
Born	(1969-10-16) October 16, 1969 Gaza City, Gaza Strip
Nationality	Palestinian
Education	MBA (Human Resource Management), Al‑Azhar University, Gaza
Years active	1992–present
Employer(s)	Women’s Affairs Center (WAC), Gaza
Known for	Women’s rights advocacy, leadership in Gaza women‑led civil society
Title	General Director (Executive Director)

Amal Syam (Arabic: آمال صيام) is a Palestinian women’s rights advocate and the General Director of the Women’s Affairs Center (WAC) in Gaza.^[1] She is involved in advancing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and inclusive participation in policy processes in Palestine.^[2]

Syam was born on October 16, 1969, in Gaza City. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, with a specialization in Human Resource Management, from Al-Azhar University in Gaza.^[2]

Since 2009, Syam has served as General Director of the Women’s Affairs Center in Gaza. In this role, she oversees the organization’s strategic planning, program implementation, gender-focused research, community engagement, and advocacy efforts.^[1]

She has led initiatives aimed at addressing harmful gender norms and socio-cultural practices, including efforts to combat gender-based violence.^[3] Under her leadership, WAC has implemented response services such as psychosocial support, legal aid, economic assistance, and case management for women and girls in vulnerable conditions.^[2]

Syam has also supported programs that promote economic empowerment, including access to wage employment, small business management, and digital freelancing opportunities for women.^[4][5]

She has also commented publicly on ceasefire implications and humanitarian conditions in Gaza in various interviews and international platforms.^[6][7][8]

Her professional approach is grounded in principles of human rights, gender-transformative development, community engagement, environmental awareness, and disability inclusion.^[2]

As a trainer and facilitator, Syam has conducted workshops on leadership, strategic planning, early marriage, gender-based violence,^[9] life skills, and project management. These have targeted staff from civil society organizations, youth groups, and humanitarian professionals.^[2]

Syam has supervised multiple research projects conducted by WAC on issues including:

• Gender-based violence
• Women’s access to justice
• Violence against women with disabilities
• The effects of armed conflict on women in Gaza^[10]
• Needs and priorities of women in crisis contexts^[2]

She is also the general supervisor of Al-Ghaidaa Magazine, a periodical published by the Women’s Affairs Center that focuses on women’s and social issues in Palestinian society.^[2][11]

Syam’s media appearances have included public interviews and commentary on women's roles in conflict zones and post-war reconstruction.^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

Syam is a member of several national and regional networks, including:

• The CEDAW Coalition (Palestine)
• The National Coalition for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325
• The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO)
• The Independent Commission for Human Rights (as a commissioner)
• The Arab Network for the Arab Feminist Community^[2][17]

She has represented Palestinian women and civil society organizations at international conferences addressing women’s rights, development, and humanitarian issues.^[18][19] She has also spoken about the gendered impacts of military conflict and the role of justice mechanisms in ceasefire and post-conflict frameworks.^[20][21][22]

Syam has been acknowledged for her contributions to regional and international dialogues on gender and development.^[23] In June 2021, Syam was honored at the 9th International Human Rights Festival in Rabat, Morocco, for her leadership in defending women's rights in Palestine.^[16][24][25]

• https://new.wac.ps/
• مركز شؤون المرأة - غزة Women's Affairs Center - Facebook Page