A conversation with a trailblazing child protection advocate, Judit Nemeth-Almasi, Deputy Head of Terre des hommes Regional Office in Budapest

This International Women's Day, we invite you to join us in exploring the remarkable journey of Judit Nemeth-Almasi, Deputy Head of Terre des hommes Regional Office in Budapest. As we celebrate the invaluable contributions of women in the field of child protection and advocacy, Judit stands as an extraordinary force at the heart of Terre des hommes (Tdh). Her visionary leadership, from the nascent days of Tdh in Budapest, has been instrumental in shaping groundbreaking projects that meld human-rights-based development with the transformative power of technology. 

Can you share a bit about your journey with Terre des hommes? How did it all begin for you, and what motivated you to join the organisation?  

I joined Tdh in Budapest in 2008 when it had only four employees – a regional advisor, a finance/office manager, a project manager, and an IT person. I joined to manage a brand-new project where Tdh was collaborating with other Tdh organizations, Tdh Germany, and Tdh International Federation – which served as a pilot for the entire organization. Later on, as I learned more about the ways in which Tdh works for child protection, I was fortunate to have had the chance to visit all of the delegations in Europe – where I could talk to colleagues and understand first-hand the nature of our work. I even had the chance to do a bit of research into children on the move in Moldova, which was a truly enriching experience. 

For me, a new and exciting project started in 2014, with the Child Protection Hub – we took at least 4-5 months to plan it out and learn about how online technologies worked, and what would be effective for us to promote good child protection practice. This has truly become my passion, and I am still excited to work on how technology can support child protection professionals. 

As a woman leader, what advice would you give to young professionals aspiring to make a difference in the field of child protection and humanitarian work?  

I think the biggest mistake we women can make, is trying to compete with men in masculine ways. I think we should rather change the game by being more inclusive, integrative and innovative and build on our own strengths, rather than trying to incorporate male managerial traits. Child Protection is quite dominantly a women’s issue – which is actually quite sad. Whichever profession is women dominated, is oftenviewed as oflower prestige. Furthermore, there is a very traditional prejudice, that anything to do with children should be the role of women. I think this is something that we should fight against vehemently, and that is why I am always happy to see men coming into roles of social workers, care workers, teachers! Children need to learn from men just as much as from women.   

In celebration of International Women's Day, can you share your thoughts on the importance of recognizing and empowering women in the workplace, especially in roles related to child protection and child right advocacy?  

Women bring a number of valuable insights into the discourse on child protection: they offer unique perspectives and experiences, proving highly effective at engaging children and families in our work. Women are also uniquely positioned to understand and address gender-specific issues affecting children, such as gender-based violence, discrimination, or access to education. Last but not least, women’s participation in decision-making can lead to more inclusive policies and practices that consider the diverse needs and experiences of both boys and girls. 

International Women's Day calls for recognizing the diverse strengths of women. In your journey, Judit, is there a woman or group of women who inspired or influenced you significantly?  

I have had the chance to work with Sendrine Constant, the first Head of the Regional Office – then Head of the Child Protection expertise in Terre des hommes (currently head of Research and Advocacy at ECPAT International). She is a truly inspired and inspirational leader, full of innovative ideas, drive, energy and courage. She fought very hard for causes that she held dear, and turned every stone to make things happen! Her foresight helped Tdh work with institutions that are on the forefront of work in child participation, gender norms, or child labour issues – and made a considerable mark on what Tdh is doing today.  

I have recently „met” (alas, not in person), Dr. Eleanor Nwatinobi, a doctor by profession, an experienced NGO manager, and now a senior advisor in Nigeria for the Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub. She is a true activist, who works for the rights of women every day, she is passionate about protecting women from abuse and harm, and works tirelessly for their cause. She was also appointed as President of the Medical Women International Association in 2022, in recognition of her knowledge, experience and passion. She is a huge inspiration for me!