Registration for the international congress ‘Child protection for the most vulnerable children and families’ is now open

Registration for the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) congress in Tallinn on 13–16 June 2022 is now open. The congress focuses on the mental health of children, sexual and other abuse, intimate partner violence, the protection of children in closed institutions, the protection of children whose parents are in prison or have addiction problems, cross-border co-operation, and the use of digital services.

‘We expect that the congress, whose main topic is the rights of children, will bring together about 500 delegates. Researchers, policy makers, and practitioners who come into contact with children and families in their work are welcome. It provides an excellent platform for addressing on-going or emerging challenges to the well-being of children, including in the context of various crises. An ever-changing and at times rapidly changing world puts children in a difficult reality – the congress explores effective, evidence-based and innovative strategies to address these challenges. The congress provides a good opportunity to bring together knowledge related to child protection from around the world,’ said Brit Tammiste, Congress Co-chair and Adviser to the Ministry of Justice.

 

The main speakers of the congress are Kersti Kaljulaid, the President of Estonia (2016-2021); Ritva Halila, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Unit on Children and Young People and Senior Medical Advisor of General Secretary at National Advisory Board on Social Welfare and Health Care Ethics; Owen W. Lewis, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, USA; Lucie Cluver, Professor of Child and Family Social Work in Oxford, UK; Elisabeth Dahlin, the Ombudsman for Children in Sweden; and Liz Ayre, Executive Director of Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) (COPE). The main speakers can be found on the ISPCAN website here.

The congress will take place in Tallinn at the Creative Hub. In addition to the official programme of the congress, there will also be several field trips – to the Tallinn children’s house, the Tallinn Prison, and the Valgejõe Study Centre of the Maarjamäe Education College. You can see more information about the field trips here.

A social programme has also been developed for the participants, during which there will be daytrips to Lääne County and Lahemaa National Park. It will also be possible to get acquainted with the Old Town of Tallinn, do sports, and sing with amateur choirs. Information about the social programme can be found here.

You can register here to participate in the congress.