Speakers
Bess Herbert
Advocacy Specialist, Corporal Punishment and Violence Prevention Violence Prevention Unit, World Health Organization
Bess Herbert is a globally recognised expert in ending corporal punishment and violence against children. With over 25 years of experience advocating for children’s human rights, she brings a wealth of knowledge on protection, prevention, and the intersection between climate change and violence against children.
Currently based in the Violence Prevention Unit at the World Health Organization (WHO), Bess has previously served as an Advocacy Specialist at the End Violence Partnership and as Advocacy and Partnerships Manager at the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children. She is also a guest lecturer on children’s rights and protection at King’s College London.
Bess holds a Master’s degree in International Development and Child Rights, has designed and delivered parenting programs, and is a dedicated parent and climate activist. She lives in London, UK.
Lucy Jamieson
Senior Researcher, Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town
Lucy Jamieson is a child rights expert with extensive experience in governance, law reform, policy development, and child protection. With 18 years in political campaign management, communications coordination, and public consultation, she is dedicated to strengthening participatory democracy and advancing children’s rights.
As a Senior Researcher at the Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town, Lucy’s work focuses on ensuring that policies and legal frameworks uphold the rights and well-being of children. She holds a BA (Hons) in Politics and an MA in Democratic Governance.
Dr Betty Okot
Postdoctoral Research Officer, Global Parenting Initiative, Makerere University
Dr. Betty Okot is an Early Career Researcher at the Child Health and Development Centre (CHDC), Makerere University, Uganda. She brings extensive experience in qualitative research and a growing interest in multi- and transdisciplinary approaches. Betty played a key role in the Parenting for Respectability Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial, an international collaboration between Makerere, Oxford, and Glasgow universities, aimed at reducing violence against children and strengthening family relationships.
Hosted by
Dr Isang Awah
Head of Advocacy, Global Parenting Initiative, University of Oxford
Dr. Isang Awah is a passionate advocate for evidence-based, playful parenting programs, working to enhance child well-being worldwide. As Head of Advocacy at the Global Parenting Initiative, based at the University of Oxford’s Department of Social Policy and Intervention, she collaborates with national governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and faith-based organizations to drive the adoption of Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) programs.
With a strong commitment to empowering national research teams, Dr. Awah supports their leadership in advocacy efforts, ensuring that effective parenting interventions are implemented globally.