Dale Rutstein is the Chief of Communication and Advocacy at the UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti. Dale recently began his new role leading advocacy and communication for UNICEF’s global research function, after 6 years in charge of media, advocacy and partnership efforts for UNICEF China. In China, he expanded UNICEF’s social media initiatives for the promotion of child rights reaching almost 3 million regular followers. He led the development of UNICEF partnerships with media, celebrities, corporations, sports organizations and foundations.
Dale has worked with UNICEF off and on since 1992, principally in its East Asia and Eastern Europe-CIS regions. He has carved out a specialization in media mobilization in support of high profile child rights lobbying efforts. As UNICEF Communication Chief in the Philippines (2003-2008), Dale orchestrated national media campaigns that secured the first juvenile justice system law and historic strengthening of breastmilk substitute advertising bans. Coming from the world of television journalism Dale has pioneered UNICEF efforts to include the voices of disadvantaged young people on nationwide broadcast television in Albania and the Philippines.
From 1997 to 2000 Dale headed up the Baha’i International Community’s Office of Public Information and led efforts to defend minority rights to higher education. Dale received his BA in creative writing at Hamilton College and Masters in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is a native of Massachusetts. His wife Helen was born in the UK and their three children were born during Dale’s first overseas posting in Papua New Guinea.
