The First Lady of Syria, Asma al-Assad has long portrayed herself as a champion of women and children's rights in Syria. For example, in 2008 she gave a speech to women from around the world and promote the need for human rights. In February 2011, shortly before the outbreak of the Syrian popular protests, Asma al-Assad was interviewed by Vogue for a highly controversial profile piece. She was described as the "rose in the desert" but the interview did not mention Syria's abysmal human rights record. For the last ten months of bloodshed in Syria, Asma al-Assad words now sound hollow against the continuous brutalities committed by the Syrian security forces.
It is time to remind Asma al-Assad to speak out for women's rights defenders who work to protect the future for all Syrian children.
