Elham Said

About Elham

Elham Said is a defense lawyer with more than 15 years of experience specializing in supporting women and vulnerable groups. She is a member of the Free Aleppo Bar Association and previously served as a Member of the Council of the Free Syrian Bar Association. She believes that human rights are the foundation of any fair and stable society. She has seen how legal trainings and awareness campaigns, particularly for women and vulnerable groups, can enable individuals to assert and protect their rights. She has worked with IBJ to provide legal defense for detainees and victims.  Through her work with IBJ she strengthened her belief that early legal representation, training, and community participation are crucial tools for preventing violations and supporting human rights defenders.

The Challenge

Ms. Said points to a range of challenges that hinder access to justice. She describes how police misconduct, including arbitrary detention, physical assault, and torture during arrest or interrogation, erodes public trust in the legal system. Additionally, a lack of awareness of legal rights in society leaves many unable to navigate the justice system effectively. Accused individuals frequently encounter delays or outright refusals when seeking qualified legal representation, while victims of sex trafficking face discriminatory barriers in securing the legal support they need. Compounding these issues is the limited coordination among legal actors and officials that creates gaps within the justice system. This further weakens the ability of the justice system to deliver fair outcomes.

The Innovation: Guardians of the Law: Strengthening Police Responsibilities and Powers to Protect Citizens’ Rights

Ms Said’s project aims to resolve these challenges by bringing together police officers, lawyers, judges, and civil society actors to work on solutions that improve access to justice. The project emphasizes direct interaction and collaboration between law enforcement and the public. Ms Said also aims to provide simplified legal guides to help citizens understand their rights and ensure that early legal representation is available for men, women, and children. The project is designed to integrate gender equality into all activities. Women are trained and involved as trainers, and special attention is given to protecting women’s and children’s rights during arrest, interrogation, and detention.