Lama Fakih

Lama Fakih is Human Rights Watch’s Global Program Director, where she leads the organization's global research agenda and is responsible for ensuring the rigor, quality, and impact of its investigations worldwide. Throughout her career, Fakih has led research and advocacy on a broad range of human rights issues, including armed conflict, accountability for serious abuses, counterterrorism and human rights, women’s rights, and the rights of refugees and other vulnerable populations.

Prior to serving as Global Program Director, Fakih held a number of positions at Human Rights Watch, including as acting Deputy Executive Director and Chief Programs Officer, Middle East and North Africa Director, Director of the Crisis and Conflict Division, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division, and Syria and Lebanon Researcher. 

In addition, she was a Senior Crisis Advisor in Amnesty International’s Crisis Response Program and twice served as a Fellow at the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ) at the New York University School of Law. 

Fakih was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to conduct research on the implementation of Islamic law in the Egyptian National Courts, holds a bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College and a law degree from New York University School of Law. She speaks English and Arabic.