European Research on Violence Against Children Report

Mr. Marc Dullaert

European Network Ombudsman for Children

On 15 February 2011, the House of Representatives of the Dutch parliament announced the appointment of M.L.M. (Marc) Dullaert as the Netherlands’ first ever Ombudsman for Children.

Academic background
Marc Dullaert (born 1963) studied theology in Amsterdam before obtaining a Master’s degree in Social Sciences and Communication Science at KU Leuven (Belgium). He went on to earn a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) at Nyenrode University in Breukelen (The Netherlands) in 1996.

Marc Dullaert has been involved in championing the rights of children for many years. He is the founder and chairman of the KidsRights charity, which fights for children's rights in developing countries worldwide. He initiated the international Children's Peace Prize and currently chairs the associated expert committee. He was also the initiator of the KidsRights Millennium Development Goals Conference, which was chaired jointly by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and former President of South Africa F.W. de Klerk. Marc has also been active on behalf of the Plan Nederland organisation, which supports children in developing countries, seeking in particular to combat discrimination against young women/girls.

In addition, Marc is an experienced player in the media world. Following a long involvement with Dutch TV company Ivo Niehe Producties (including a period as managing director), he was a shareholder in and CEO of the European D&D media group from 2003 – 2009.