Spotlight for the Week: Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid
On 30 May 2019, the United Nations Secretary-General appointed Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, a seasoned Moroccan paediatrician, as his Special Representative on Violence against Children. She officially assumed her role on 1 July 2019, becoming the second person to hold this position since its establishment, ten years after Marta Santos Pais of Portugal.
Dr. M’jid has dedicated over four decades to the promotion and protection of children’s rights. A medical doctor specialized in paediatrics and neonatology, she served as Head of the Pediatric Department and Director of the Hay Hassani Mother-Child Hospital in Casablanca, Morocco.
She is also the founder of Bayti, the first non-governmental organization in Morocco focused on the protection and reintegration of children living and working on the streets.
From 2008 to 2014, Dr. M’jid served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography, where she led international efforts to combat the most extreme violations against children.
Her work has extended beyond direct service to children, Dr. M’jid has acted as an international expert and consultant on the development and monitoring of integrated child protection strategies, national policies, and social development reforms. She has worked with numerous governments, NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations across the globe.
Dr. M’jid has also taught extensively in both Moroccan and international universities, focusing on child rights protection, programming, and monitoring. She has contributed significantly to the training of professionals—including social workers, teachers, judges, law enforcement officers, and medical personnel—ensuring they are equipped to protect and support children in various settings.
Dr. M’jid is the recipient of numerous awards and honors in recognition of her strong commitment to the rights of children. Her leadership continues to shape global efforts to eliminate violence against children and promote systems that respect their dignity, agency, and well-being.
She holds:
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A Doctorate in General Medicine from the University of Rabat
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A specialization in Paediatrics and Neonatology from the University of Bordeaux II
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A Master’s Degree in Human Rights from the Human Rights Institute in Geneva
Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid’s work serves as a powerful reminder that the protection of children requires both heart and strategy, from grassroots interventions to international policymaking. Her voice continues to echo across nations, urging governments, institutions, and societies to place children’s safety, dignity, and development at the forefront.
