Social Protection Sector (ED/PROTECT)

Mr Assane DIOP
Executive Director
Telephone: (+41.22) 799.6140
E-mail: edprotect@ilo.org

Mr Assane Diop (Senegal) was appointed Executive Director responsible for the Social Protection Sector with effect from 15 April 2000. Born in Dakar in 1948, Mr Diop holds a Master's degree in Romance languages and literature from the Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, and advanced degrees in those subjects from the Universities of Sao Paolo (Brazil) and Lisbon (Portugal). Following a career in the field of education, Mr Diop held various posts at senior decision-making level in the social and labour spheres, both in Senegal and in the African region. These posts included Secretary-General of the Senegalese Teachers' Trade Union (SPYROS, 1982-86); Federal Secretary of the International Department of the National Confederation of Workers of Senegal (CNTS, 1982-86) and Deputy Secretary-General responsible for Education and Training at the Organization for African Trade Union Unity (OATUU, 1987-1990). Mr Diop was a member of the Government from 1990 to 2000; as Minister for Health (1990-95); as Minister of Labour and Employment (1995-98); and again as Minister of Health (1998-2000). Mr Diop is known for having negotiated the Labour Code and Employment Policy in his country at tripartite level and was one of the key negotiators in the privatization process of public enterprises in Senegal. Mr Diop is an honorary citizen of the State of Georgia, USA, and has been awarded the "Palmes Académiques Françaises".