Researching Children, Migration, and Safeguarding in a Changing World
Scholar • Policy Advisor • Global Child Safeguarding Specialist
About Diana Gerson
Academic research, humanitarian policy engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration advancing the protection and well-being of children and families globally.
A researcher and global policy strategist focused on children’s rights, migration, safeguarding, and the evolving systems that shape the well-being of vulnerable children and families. My work bridges academic research, humanitarian policy, and cross-sector collaboration, with a commitment to translating evidence into effective safeguarding practices worldwide.
With more than two decades of leadership across multilateral institutions, civil society, and faith-informed humanitarian contexts, I work at the intersection of scholarship, policy development, and practical implementation to strengthen child protection systems and support resilient communities.
My work seeks to advance research-informed frameworks that support resilient families, inclusive societies, and effective global protection systems for the next generation.
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Research Focus
My academic work examines how children construct identity, belonging, and family in contexts of displacement, migration, and social change. Particular areas of focus include:
- Children’s rights and international policy frameworks
- Migration, displacement, and unaccompanied minors
- Safeguarding and child protection systems
- Social constructions of childhood and family
- Psychosocial well-being and resilience
- Interdisciplinary approaches to humanitarian policy
This research informs both scholarly discourse and real-world safeguarding practice.
Current Academic and Policy Engagement
I am currently a PhD candidate researching the social construction of childhood and family within international children’s rights discourse, with a focus on refugee, migrant, and unaccompanied minors.
In parallel, I collaborate with international organizations, academic institutions, policymakers, and civil society leaders to strengthen safeguarding frameworks, develop evidence-informed policy, and foster interdisciplinary dialogue on emerging risks affecting children and families.
Selected Publications & Scholarship
My publications focus on children’s rights, safeguarding, migration, humanitarian systems, and interdisciplinary approaches to protecting vulnerable populations.
- Protecting the Faith and Well-being of Displaced Children (Scientia, 2025)
- Safeguarding Migrant and Refugee Children: A Critical Contemporary Challenge (Frontiers in Political Science, 2024)
- Addressing Childhood Sexual Abuse (Journal of Jewish Communal Service)
I continue to develop research that bridges academic scholarship with policy impact and safeguarding practice.
Policy Engagement and Global Collaboration
My work engages multilateral organizations, academic networks, civil society leaders, and humanitarian practitioners to strengthen child protection systems globally.
Key areas of engagement include:
- Child dignity and safeguarding policy development
- Migration and displacement responses
- Online and offline child protection risks
- Multistakeholder collaboration across sectors
- Research-to-policy translation
This collaborative work supports evidence-based frameworks designed to improve outcomes for children and families worldwide.
Interdisciplinary and Faith Context Experience
My professional background includes extensive engagement with faith-based humanitarian actors and interfaith initiatives. This experience provides insight into how diverse cultural and institutional contexts contribute to child protection ecosystems globally.
This perspective informs my research while remaining grounded in interdisciplinary academic scholarship and policy-focused analysis.
