International Children's Rights: A Panel Discussion
Susan Bissel, UNICEF, New York Office: "Children's Rights and the Protection of Children in a Globalizing World."
Nadja Pollaert, Director General, International Bureau for Children's Rights: "Child Trafficking: A Case Study."
Sponsored by the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, the Human Rights Working Group and the Centre for Developing Area Studies.
About the speakers
Susan Bissell first joined UNICEF in 1987 in
New York in what was then called DIPA - the Division of Information
and Public Affairs.听 She then enrolled in the University of
Toronto to complete a Masters degree in law, economics and
international relations. Following graduation, she joined UNICEF
Sri Lanka, working on education and CEDC - children in especially
difficult circumstances - issues. Susan moved to Bangladesh and
continued to work in UNICEF with a focus on CEDC and education and
child labour.
Susan returned to UNICEF in 2001 as the Chief of Child Protection
in India. In 2004, she transferred to the Innocenti Research Center
where she managed the Implementing International Standards Unit.
Susan managed a number of reports including a 62-country study on
the implementation of the general measures of the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child, and global research on the Palermo
Protocol and child trafficking. As member of the Editorial Board of
the report of the UN Secretary General's Study on Violence Against
Children which was released in 2006, Susan has also been involved
in follow-up activities that will advance the implementation of the
recommendations of the UN Study.
Nadja Pollaert received her diploma in International Relations from the Institut d'茅tudes politiques in Paris. She received a Master's degree from the University of Montr茅al, having studied the integration of North African Muslim women in a post colonial context. 听As Coordinator of the Committee to Aid Refugees in Montr茅al, Ms. Pollaert defended human rights and advocated for asylum seekers in Canada. She has also been an active member of Amnesty International.听 Ms. Pollaert also worked as a cultural and political affairs consultant for the Representation of the State of Bavaria (Germany) in Qu茅bec.
Nadja Pollaert is an active member to the Board of Directors of Maison Buissonni猫re, an organisation devoted to the educational principles of Fran莽oise Dolto for children from 0 to 4 years.听Madame Pollaert is member of the board of directors of the Canadian Coalition on the Rights of the Child, member of the Board of directors of Peacebuild听 and president of the Board of Directors of Service d'茅ducation et d'int茅gration interculturelle de Montr茅al (SEIIM) an organisation providing trainings on intercultural issues.
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Photo credit: Creative Commons photo by Flickr user .