Ghassan Khalil

Dr. Ghassan Khalil is a senior UN official, academic and international expert in International Human Rights Law, educational management, social policy, and legal reform, with more than 30 years of experience in the field of development, academic leadership, and management.  

His work has taken him to more than 70 countries, contributing to various fields, mostly in child rights. Dr Khalil held many positions in UNICEF, serving as Representative in Greece, Georgia, Senior Advisor to UNICEF Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa, and Special Representative in Libya.  

He also served in multiple governmental, regional and international development senior consulting roles. In his home country, Lebanon, he held senior positions, such as the legal advisor to the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Secretary-General of the Higher Council for Childhood. In 1997, he was elected as the Chairperson of the Higher Committee for Child Affairs in the League of Arab States. Prior to that, he served for three years as the Social Policy and Strategic Planning Advisor to the Government of Dubai, where he also served for six months as the CEO of Research, Policy and Strategy. He was also the Managing Director and Principal Advisor of the International Centre for Research and Training (ICRT) in Dubai and the Founder and Executive Director of the Beirut Centre for Human Rights. 

He holds a Doctorate in International Public Law and a Master’s degree in International Business Law from Paris V – Sorbonne University (both degrees Summa Cum Laude), and a Maitrise in Law from the Lebanese University. 

From 1990, and throughout his career, Dr. Khalil has taught at school level, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. He lectured in more than 50 universities in different countries, focusing on international law, human rights, strategic planning, and intercultural diversity. He has supervised Master’s dissertations and PhD theses and served as an academic advisor and doctoral supervisor with various universities. 

Professor Khalil teaches and coaches leadership within higher education and professional contexts, integrating leadership theory, reflective practice, and evidence-based coaching approaches. His work focuses on ethical and inclusive leadership, the development of self-awareness, and effective decision-making in complex organizational environments. His scholarly contributions include authored and co-authored books (including a book on Women’s Rights in 1999 and a book of Child Rights in 2001), research papers, peer-reviewed articles, university textbooks, and applied research adopted by academic and public institutions.  

In recognition of his academic and institutional contributions, Dr Khalil was awarded four honorary doctorate degrees by public universities and granted the title of honorable citizen of the city of Kutaisi in Georgia. The Government of Libya granted him the award of the Friend of the Children of Libya, after serving during the civil war period between 2014 and 2017. In recognition of his achievements, the American Biographical Institute granted him the International Diploma of Honour for his achievements in the field of human rights.