A Child-Centred New World Order: People Power for Justice, Inclusion, and Equity presents a compelling vision for a more just and peaceful world-one built around the rights, dignity, and well-being of children.
Drawing on a lifetime of experience as a national planner, governor, and senior officer within UNICEF, Baquer Namazi offers a rare blend of personal narrative and global insight. From development work in Iran to humanitarian missions across Africa and beyond, he shares powerful lessons on what works and what fails when addressing poverty, conflict, and inequality.
At the heart of the book is a simple yet transformative idea: that children can serve as the unifying force for global change. By placing their protection and development at the centre of policy and action, societies can move beyond political divides toward shared goals of peace, justice, and human dignity.
Namazi explores the evolution of people-powered movements, the role of international institutions, and the potential of frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. He demonstrates how participatory development, where communities defi ne their own priorities, can lead to sustainable and meaningful progress.
This is both a reflective memoir and a call to action. It challenges governments, civil society, and individuals to work together in a grand alliance for humanity, drawing on compassion, collaboration, and collective responsibility.
Timely and thought-provoking, A Child-Centred New World Order speaks to policymakers, development practitioners, students, and all who believe that a better future is possible.
Above all, it is a book about hope, grounded in experience, driven by purpose, and focused on the next generation.
Mohammad Baquer Namazi is a development economist, humanitarian practitioner, and former public servant whose life's work has been dedicated to advancing human dignity, inclusive development, and ethical governance. Baquer Namazi is an Iranian-American who currently resides inthe United States. Born in Najaf, Iraq, he studied economics and political science at St. Xavier's College and earned a master's degree in development economics from Vanderbilt University. He began his career in Iran's Plan and Budget Organisation and later served as Governor-General of Khuzestan, where he engaged directly with the challenges of governance and development at the provincial level.Namazi went on to join UNICEF, serving as a Policy Advisor at headquarters in New York and as the organisation's representative in Somalia, Kenya, and Egypt. Across these roles, he worked to strengthen institutions, promote child-centred development, and foster international cooperation, with a consistent emphasis on transparency, accountability, and the protection of vulnerable communities.After retiring from international service, he established Iran's first NGO resource center, helping to strengthen civil society and promote participatory development. Through his writing and advocacy, he continues to champion inclusive people-centred approaches to development, grounded in integrity, experience, and a lifelong commitment to justice.
