What is advocacy and why is it so important?
February 2025
“Advocacy is often misunderstood as being merely aggressive and confrontational protesting, and advocates or ‘activists’ seen as troublemakers disrupting peace and order. This could not be further from the truth of what advocacy really is.”
These are the words of Embrace the Middle East’s new Advocacy and Campaigns Manager, Gloria Leccese-Debney. For many years Embrace has been advocating with and on behalf of our Christian partners in the Middle East, but we want to build on what we are doing and Gloria, who brings a wealth of global campaigning experience, will be spearheading this. Here she explains why advocacy is so important:
What is advocacy?
Advocacy is saturated with compassion for people who are oppressed, unseen and unheard. It is a desire to shine light on the truth and to “let justice roll down like waters” (Amos 5:24).
At its heart, advocacy is about influencing those in positions of power to bring about change for people suffering injustice and oppression. It ensures that the voices of people who are unheard and unseen are taken into genuine consideration when decisions about their lives and future are being made.
Advocacy may take the shape of persuasion or negotiation in private through quiet diplomacy and one-to-one relationships; it may require an uncompromising strong and vocal message to pressure those in a position of power to act urgently; or it may shape into mass mobilisation of people speaking with one, loud and powerful voice, impossible to ignore.
To build long-lasting, systemic change, advocacy needs to be strategic, backed by solid and concrete evidence and have a defined goal to strive towards.
What is Embrace currently advocating for and why?
A permanent and lasting ceasefire in Gaza - After 15 months of war that saw the destruction of the majority of infrastructures in Gaza and the death of more than 48,000 Palestinians, Gaza has been experiencing a temporary and fragile ceasefire. Amidst the instability and suffering, our partners have shown unwavering commitment to serve people most in need. Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City saw many of its buildings damaged by the war, but in February it was still treating about 700 patients a day and was able to restart some chemotherapy and rehabilitation treatment for cancer patients.
With the first phase of the ceasefire now ended and uncertainty over what comes next, Embrace continues to echo its partners’ voices by calling for a permanent ceasefire, lasting peace and an end to violence by all parties.
We also call for the recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people and an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, as well as full accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law perpetrated by both sides since 7 October 2023.
Through the campaign “Advent Not Arms”, as well as other initiatives in coalition with other organisations, Embrace has been calling for the immediate suspension of arms sales and military assistance to Israel and for the UK to promote regional peace. There is credible evidence that all parties to the conflict in Gaza have violated international humanitarian law, and by continuing to supply arms to Israel the UK will be complicit in these violations, in contravention of its international legal obligations. Thanks to the many of you who signed the Advent Not Arms Petition, Embrace was able to present our asks to UK Government officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Why should Christians, in particular, care about advocacy?
The bible is rich in examples of advocates in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, Esther is a powerful example of effective, bold and strategic advocacy. Esther was in a unique position of influence to advocate to the king and prevent the destruction of her own people. Her boldness came at a very high and personal risk – had the King not appreciated what she was asking for, he could have ordered her execution – and her approach was highly strategic and skilful. Esther asked at the right time and in the right way to obtain the king’s favour and save her people from destruction.
Nehemiah is another example of an advocate in the Old Testament. Forcibly exiled from his land, he was serving the king of Persia as his cup bearer, a position of influence that he used when he heard reports of his city, Jerusalem, in ruins, and respectfully asked the King to be sent back to his own land and restore it to its glory (Nehemiah 1).
In the New Testament, Paul advocates for his rights as a Roman citizen before several Roman authorities (Romans 23-26).
I am inspired by these examples, but even more so by Jesus, the advocate par excellence, who interceded for the oppressed, the marginalised and stigmatised of society, exemplifying a perfect model of love and compassion, and uncovering the injustice and hypocrisy of the religious leaders of the time.
What’s next for Embrace’s advocacy campaigns?
For several years Embrace has had a desire to do more advocacy that follows the models drawn from biblical examples of compassion and a heart for justice. In February this year I started my journey at Embrace as Advocacy and Campaigns Manager to work along with partners and like-minded organisations and transform this desire into action.
I am truly honoured and thrilled to be part of the Embrace team and contribute to its advocacy work. I am specialised in international human rights law and have worked in the non-profit advocacy sector for more than six and a half years. But mostly, I have an insatiable passion to “let justice roll down like waters”. I am looking forward to building those relationships that will allow Embrace to enable the voices of our partners and those they serve to reverberate throughout the corridors of power to bring lasting change.
If you want to get involved, watch this space for what is coming!
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