Assefa Bequele

Dr. Assefe Bequele is an internationally recognized authority on child rights and child wellbeing. He has had a long and distinguished career in university teaching (Ethiopia and the US), international advocacy work and institution building, as well as many years of service in the United Nations.

He is the author of numerous global reports, books and articles on child wellbeing and child labour. His path-breaking work at the international level included the development of the now nearly-universally ratified international Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour and the design and development of the ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), the world’s premier technical cooperation programme on child labour. His work in recent years has focussed mainly on policy and advocacy work to promote accountability among African governments, ensure justice for children, and end exploitation and violence against children.  

Assefa is the founder and first Executive Director of the African Child Policy Forum (ACPF), a leading independent Pan-African policy research and advocacy centre. He has served or continues to serve as Board member, expert or adviser in various international and continental organisations.