Dr Aidoo was the UNICEF representative to Tanzania, 1992-1998, led the Country Office Team in advocacy, research and analysis of the situation of children and women, formulation of strategies, programme activities and resource mobilization to meet identified needs. As a Global Senior Adviser on Women and Girls’ Development, UNICEF headquarters, 1989-1992, she led
research and advocacy on the rights of the Girl Child through CSW, UNICEF Executive Board and Member States until they became organizational priority
As Social Policy Adviser, UNECA, 1985-1989, she led advocacy, policy analysis and programme response to the changing needs of children, youth, families, persons with disabilities, refugees and displaced persons in Africa. Dr Aidoo is currently a member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
research and advocacy on the rights of the Girl Child through CSW, UNICEF Executive Board and Member States until they became organizational priority
As Social Policy Adviser, UNECA, 1985-1989, she led advocacy, policy analysis and programme response to the changing needs of children, youth, families, persons with disabilities, refugees and displaced persons in Africa. Dr Aidoo is currently a member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
Ms Agnes Kabore Quattara
Mme Agnès Kaboré is the current Chairperson of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). Mme Kaboré is a socio-economist who has held a number of senior positions relating to children’s issues within the Burkina Faso civil service. She is presently the
Director General for Child and Youth Protection in the Ministry for Social Action and National Solidarity. Furthermore, she has extensive civil society experience, having been, for example, Deputy Secretary General of the Burkina Faso Association for Family Wellbeing and a member of the Board of the Red Cross
in Burkina Faso since 2005.
She has also worked with GTZ as an advisor on cross-cutting themes such as mainstreaming HIV/AIDS and combating child labour in the agricultural sector. She has worked as an international consultant on situation analysis and developing strategies and policies for the protection of children.
Director General for Child and Youth Protection in the Ministry for Social Action and National Solidarity. Furthermore, she has extensive civil society experience, having been, for example, Deputy Secretary General of the Burkina Faso Association for Family Wellbeing and a member of the Board of the Red Cross
in Burkina Faso since 2005.
She has also worked with GTZ as an advisor on cross-cutting themes such as mainstreaming HIV/AIDS and combating child labour in the agricultural sector. She has worked as an international consultant on situation analysis and developing strategies and policies for the protection of children.
Dr Rebecca Davis
Dr. Rebecca Davis, Director and Lecturer, Center for International Social Work at Rutgers University School of Social Work, has primary teaching responsibilities in international social work and social work practice for public child welfare social workers. She directs student service learning in Ghana and Romania, and currently is consulting on child protection system strengthening in Nigeria. In 2009, she did a study on Human Capacity
Within Child Welfare Systems in Africa.
Dr. Davis was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Bucharest, Romania (92-94). From 1998-2002, she
directed a USAID-funded project for World Vision to develop alternative community services for children and families to reduce dependence on residential care in Romania. Dr. Davis has completed four evaluation studies for USAID on best practices in community based social services in the former Soviet Bloc and co-authored a study on Social Work Education and the Practice Environment in Europe and Eurasia. Dr. Davis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the States of New Jersey and North Carolina. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Association of Social Workers – New Jersey Chapter – in 2008.
Within Child Welfare Systems in Africa.
Dr. Davis was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Bucharest, Romania (92-94). From 1998-2002, she
directed a USAID-funded project for World Vision to develop alternative community services for children and families to reduce dependence on residential care in Romania. Dr. Davis has completed four evaluation studies for USAID on best practices in community based social services in the former Soviet Bloc and co-authored a study on Social Work Education and the Practice Environment in Europe and Eurasia. Dr. Davis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the States of New Jersey and North Carolina. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Association of Social Workers – New Jersey Chapter – in 2008.
Prof Jaap Doek
Prof. Jaap E. Doek is emeritus professor of Law (Family and Juvenile Law) at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam (since July 2004) . He has been the Dean of the Law Faculty at the Vrije Universiteit (1988 -1992). From 1998 - 2003 he was professor of Juvenile law at the University of Leiden.Currently he is a deputy justice in the Court of Appeal of Amsterdam.
Prof Doek has been a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)(1999 - 2007) and a chairperson of that Committee (2001-2007).
Prof. Doek received the Distinguished Service Award (1996) from the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and from that same Society the C. Henry Kempe Lectureship in 2006.
In 2005 he received the International Social Justice Award from the Ambedkar Center for Justice and Peace in India and in 2007 the Raoul Wallenberg Humanitarian Award of the Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Virginia USA). He published numerous books and articles on various topics in the area of children's rights and family law.
Prof Doek has been a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)(1999 - 2007) and a chairperson of that Committee (2001-2007).
Prof. Doek received the Distinguished Service Award (1996) from the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and from that same Society the C. Henry Kempe Lectureship in 2006.
In 2005 he received the International Social Justice Award from the Ambedkar Center for Justice and Peace in India and in 2007 the Raoul Wallenberg Humanitarian Award of the Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Virginia USA). He published numerous books and articles on various topics in the area of children's rights and family law.
Peter Davis
Peter Davies holds the national lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigation (including child abduction) and the national lead for Missing Children’s Services on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). He has over twenty-five years experience in front line and strategic policing roles.
He has served with three Police Forces – Thames Valley, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. His roles within
these Forces have encompassed all aspects of operational policing, including contributions to national work on criminal justice, restorative justice and neighbourhood policing
Mr Davis joined Lincolnshire Police in 1999 and was appointed Assistant Chief Constable in 2003.
His responsibilities in that role included child protection, serious crime investigation and extensive partnership work to safeguard children and vulnerable young people. In 2009 and 2010, Peter undertook a secondment to Nottinghamshire Police to focus work on improved crime reduction and detection. He was Chair of the East Midlands Regional Tasking and Co-ordination Group addressing serious and organised crime across the Region.
Peter Davis has led a number of nationally and internationally significant crime enquiries encompassing the distribution of indecent images of children, domestic extremism, fraud, and serious organised crime.
He has worked extensively in partnerships at local, regional and national level and has held a variety of national ACPO responsibilities. A qualified executive coach and mentor, Peter continues to train strategic level police investigators (PIP 4) and is an assessor for the Senior Police National Assessment Centre (Senior PNAC).
He has served with three Police Forces – Thames Valley, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. His roles within
these Forces have encompassed all aspects of operational policing, including contributions to national work on criminal justice, restorative justice and neighbourhood policing
Mr Davis joined Lincolnshire Police in 1999 and was appointed Assistant Chief Constable in 2003.
His responsibilities in that role included child protection, serious crime investigation and extensive partnership work to safeguard children and vulnerable young people. In 2009 and 2010, Peter undertook a secondment to Nottinghamshire Police to focus work on improved crime reduction and detection. He was Chair of the East Midlands Regional Tasking and Co-ordination Group addressing serious and organised crime across the Region.
Peter Davis has led a number of nationally and internationally significant crime enquiries encompassing the distribution of indecent images of children, domestic extremism, fraud, and serious organised crime.
He has worked extensively in partnerships at local, regional and national level and has held a variety of national ACPO responsibilities. A qualified executive coach and mentor, Peter continues to train strategic level police investigators (PIP 4) and is an assessor for the Senior Police National Assessment Centre (Senior PNAC).
Dr Lois Engelbrecht
Lois J. Engelbrecht has a PhD in social work administration from Walden University, a MSW from University of Washington and a BSW from Valparaiso University. She was born and grew up in India where her parents worked for 25 years. Most of her professional life has been in Asia, primarily Manila, Philippines where she founded and continues to work at the Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse, the first agency that focuses on child sexual abuse in Asia.
From her experience in the Philippines, Dr Engelbrecht began projects in Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Xi'an and Chennai, while also consulting to an agency in Mumbai. She grew up in an international school and because her husband heads an international school and her children also attended international schools, she has been working to help these schools implement child protection policies. She presently lives in Accra but continues to travel to her various projects in Asia. Dr. Engelbrecht has presented at various ISPCAN, International School and other conferences around the world.
From her experience in the Philippines, Dr Engelbrecht began projects in Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Xi'an and Chennai, while also consulting to an agency in Mumbai. She grew up in an international school and because her husband heads an international school and her children also attended international schools, she has been working to help these schools implement child protection policies. She presently lives in Accra but continues to travel to her various projects in Asia. Dr. Engelbrecht has presented at various ISPCAN, International School and other conferences around the world.
Sarita Hudson
Sarita Hudson, M.T.S., Director of Public Engagement, Stop It Now!. Since 2004, Sarita has worked with Stop It Now! facilitating collaborative relationships with individuals and organizations. Sarita provides technical assistance for partner organizations and also has primary responsibility for Stop It Now!’s website (www.StopItNow.org) and training.
Ms Hudson has presented trainings to regional, national and international audiences on topics ranging from child sexual abuse prevention and women’s issues to social justice education and theology. Her 25 years in the social change sector includes work with a legal services program in Texas, women’s rights groups in Washington DC and Mexico City, and Catholic Charities in Massachusetts. She has a BA in Spanish from Swarthmore College and a Master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School.
Ms Hudson has presented trainings to regional, national and international audiences on topics ranging from child sexual abuse prevention and women’s issues to social justice education and theology. Her 25 years in the social change sector includes work with a legal services program in Texas, women’s rights groups in Washington DC and Mexico City, and Catholic Charities in Massachusetts. She has a BA in Spanish from Swarthmore College and a Master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School.
Kingsley Chigbu
Kingsley Chigbu holds a bachellor’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy, a master’s degree in Social Work, and has additional training in Conflict Analysis, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Chemical Dependency. He is a doctoral student and Research Fellow at the University of Texas at Arlington in
the area of Social Work, with specialty interest in Large-Scale Violence and international Social Policy. Kingsley’s academic/professional experience incorporates law, diplomacy, mental health, research, and
education
the area of Social Work, with specialty interest in Large-Scale Violence and international Social Policy. Kingsley’s academic/professional experience incorporates law, diplomacy, mental health, research, and
education
Debbie Ariyo (OBE)
Debbie is Founder and Executive Director of AFRUCA - Africans Unite against Child Abuse. She is the founder of AFRUCA Foundation for the Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable Children, a new Children's NGO in Nigeria. She holds a Masters degree in Urban Policy from the University of North London and a Bachelors in French and Education from University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
As a child rights campaigner, Debbie has been very vocal and visible in highlighting issues affecting the safeguarding of African children in the UK. She has helped to develop AFRUCA's work programmes on the promotion and protection of African children. She works with and advises UK agencies and international bodies to help improve service provision to black and minority ethnic children.
Debbie is a recognised expert in the field of child protection and diversity issues. She has also written and spoken extensively on issues affecting the welfare of children in the UK. She is a Trainer, a Campaigner and a strong advocate for the rights and welfare of African children. She was a Founding Non Executive Board Member of the Independent Safeguarding Authority, the UK agency established to prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.
Debbie is a Fellow of the School for Social Enterpreneurs. She has received many awards and commendation for her work and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her work with children and families.
As a child rights campaigner, Debbie has been very vocal and visible in highlighting issues affecting the safeguarding of African children in the UK. She has helped to develop AFRUCA's work programmes on the promotion and protection of African children. She works with and advises UK agencies and international bodies to help improve service provision to black and minority ethnic children.
Debbie is a recognised expert in the field of child protection and diversity issues. She has also written and spoken extensively on issues affecting the welfare of children in the UK. She is a Trainer, a Campaigner and a strong advocate for the rights and welfare of African children. She was a Founding Non Executive Board Member of the Independent Safeguarding Authority, the UK agency established to prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.
Debbie is a Fellow of the School for Social Enterpreneurs. She has received many awards and commendation for her work and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her work with children and families.
Laura Myers
Laura Myers is a researcher with the Centre for AIDS Development, Research and Evaluation (CADRE) in Cape Town. She has fifteen years’ experience in program development, management and evaluation,
HIV/AIDS research and education, and community-level responses to HIV/AIDS. She has a Master’s degree in International Social Work from Columbia University and was a Columbia University Third Millennium Foundation Human Rights Fellow. She’s lived in South Africa for seven years and has extensive knowledge of existing HIV prevention programmes and the behaviour-change environment
there.
Laura’s research interests include health communication, HIV prevention, gender, child sexual abuse, age-disparate sex and local-level responses to HIV. She coordinated the large-scale qualitative research component of a national sero-prevalence study of South African Higher Education Institutions and has contributed to the development, testing and evaluation of numerous health communications projects, including the Scrutinizeand Brothers for Life campaigns, the television drama series Intersexionsand 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls, and a feature-length film with the Discovery Channel, Inside Story.
Laura helped lead a study exploring the vulnerability of children to HIV infection through child sexual abuse, with a specific focus on risks facing orphans and other vulnerable children and their care environments. To disseminate the research findings, she facilitated four participatory community dialogues on sexual abuse and has trained numerous men’s organisations about the
issue.
HIV/AIDS research and education, and community-level responses to HIV/AIDS. She has a Master’s degree in International Social Work from Columbia University and was a Columbia University Third Millennium Foundation Human Rights Fellow. She’s lived in South Africa for seven years and has extensive knowledge of existing HIV prevention programmes and the behaviour-change environment
there.
Laura’s research interests include health communication, HIV prevention, gender, child sexual abuse, age-disparate sex and local-level responses to HIV. She coordinated the large-scale qualitative research component of a national sero-prevalence study of South African Higher Education Institutions and has contributed to the development, testing and evaluation of numerous health communications projects, including the Scrutinizeand Brothers for Life campaigns, the television drama series Intersexionsand 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls, and a feature-length film with the Discovery Channel, Inside Story.
Laura helped lead a study exploring the vulnerability of children to HIV infection through child sexual abuse, with a specific focus on risks facing orphans and other vulnerable children and their care environments. To disseminate the research findings, she facilitated four participatory community dialogues on sexual abuse and has trained numerous men’s organisations about the
issue.
Professor Sheryl Buske
Professor Sheryl Buske (Charlotte School of Law) teaches in the area of international children’s rights and her research focuses is on the legal rights of street children. Currently serving as a Fulbright Scholar, Professor Buske lives in Ghana where she is teaching and researching the lives of street girls who work as porters in the city markets. Professor Buske has published, lectured, and trained judges, nationally and internationally, on
children’s rights.
children’s rights.
Mr Andrew Brooks, Chief of Child Protection; UNICEF Tanzania
Andy Brooks MA., BA., is a Social Worker and Social Work Manager. Since joining UNICEF in 1999, he has worked in emergency response and development programming in both Africa (Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Tanzania) and Asia (Sri Lanka), supporting Government and other partners to develop legal frameworks, guidelines and programs to better protect children from abuse, violence and exploitation. He is currently looking at opportunities in Tanzania to strengthen partnership between donors, government and civil society organizations within OVC/ Most Vulnerable Children (MVC) work and enhance focus on child protection within OVC/MVC work.