Maria Fatima Abbas

Maria Fatima Abbas, born in Argentina, is a community activist and human rights advocate specialising in peacebuilding, youth empowerment, and promoting civic values. She began her community engagement in 2005 by joining Religions for Peace and participated in the Arab Youth Federation in Argentina. Maria is a founding member and current Chairperson of the Board of Fada Association for Community Development in Tartous, which focuses on fostering social cohesion and citizenship through youth-led initiatives. She is also a founding member of the “Masarat Madaniya” Network and contributes to the “Dealing with the Past” programme on transitional justice. Maria has participated in the UN Civil Society Support Room sessions and led initiatives promoting dialogue and reconciliation among diverse communities. In 2021, she received the Marsh Award for Peacebuilding and currently works as a regional expert with Mobaderoon Foundation while providing training and consulting to local organisations, helping strengthen governance, transparency, and institutional effectiveness.