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CONNECT TOPROTECT
International Conference on Child Protection & Prevention of Violence
Organised by IASIS NGO
- 5-6/10/2026
- Athens, Greece
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Introduction About CONNECT TO PROTECT
1st International Conference on Child Protection & Prevention of Violence
Connect to Protect – Children & Youth at Risk Conference is an international forum dedicated to strengthening child protection and improving outcomes for vulnerable children, adolescents, and young people. Organised by IASIS NGO, the conference brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and organisations working across sectors to address the most pressing challenges affecting children and youth today.
Conference in Numbers
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Speakers
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Countries Represented
Conference Schedule
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
Our Speakers
Meet The Speakers
Connect to Protect 2026 brings together key stakeholders from across the global child protection community, including researchers, institutional leaders, and practitioners.
Discussions will focus on prevention strategies, child rights-based approaches, and safeguarding systems in diverse contexts.
Philip D. Jaffé
Vasiliki Artinopoulou
Richard Weissbourd
Jill Duerr Berrick
Yvonne M. Vissing
CHOOSE A TICKET
Our Pricing Ticket
Regular Ticket
150€
All prices include 24% VAT!
- Full Venue & Programme Access
- Certificate of attendance
- Membership access - Community
- Badging: Name, Title, Org, Country
- Food & Beverages
- Coffee, tea, fruits, snacks, water, plus a light lunch.
Student Ticket
120€
All prices include 24% VAT!
- Full Venue & Programme Access
- Certificate of attendance
- Membership access - Community
- Badging: Name, Title, Org, Country
- Food & Beverages
- Coffee, tea, fruits, snacks, water, plus a light lunch.
AUSPICES & PARTNERS
Partners Advancing Child Protection
We are honoured to collaborate with academic and institutional partners working toward safer environments for children and young people.
With the support of leading public institutions, academic partners, and civil society organizations.
What leading experts say about CTP Conference
In a world where so many children now grow up amid conflict, climate disruption, digital harms, and shrinking safety nets, the “Connect to Protect – Children and Youth at Risk” international conference in Athens offers a vital opportunity to refine... and perhaps even reimagine... how we connect across systems to protect those most at risk. Even in an age of polycrisis and fiscal austerity, the protection and care of children cannot be allowed to unravel. This moment demands that we put our minds together not only to prevent further erosion, but to trigger the opposite dynamic: renewed commitment, smarter cooperation, and more resilient child protection systems.
PANTEION UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCES, SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, DIRECTOR of the ‘Restorative Justice and Mediation’ Lab, DIRECTOR of the Institute on Crime and Criminal Justice, EUROPEAN PUBLIC LAW ORGANIZATION, MEMBER of SPT, United Nations, Head of the European Region
Violence against children remains one of the most serious and preventable violations of human rights. In line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, effective prevention requires coherent and comprehensive national strategies that translate international obligations into sustained public action. By strengthening evidence-informed, rights-based policies, enhancing coordination across sectors, and ensuring that the best interests of the child guide all measures, States can move from formal commitments to meaningful and lasting protection. This conference will advance dialogue and cooperation in support of prevention-oriented national responses that safeguard children from violence in all settings.
Distinguished Professor of Social Welfare Zellerbach Family Professor School of Social Welfare | University of California, Berkeley
I look forward to meeting you in beautiful Athens where we will engage in a lively discussion about the role of children in charting their own destiny to secure their safety and well-being
Professor, Department of Healthcare Studies, Director, Center for Childhood and Youth Studies, Policy Chair, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Salem State University
I am delighted to be a part of this wonderful conference and I am honored by the invitation. Stefanos and his team work very hard to make the world a better place by the healing work that they do. There is no greater investment than investing in the wellbeing of young people. It is a community obligation. Protecting and defending children's human rights in their provision, protection, and participation in society is admirable. Thank you for being a world leader to help us all to become more enlightened, aware, informed, and caring. I am looking forward to seeing you in Athens!
Professor in Psychology, Cyberpsychology Research Network (CRN), University Of Huddersfield, UK
By integrating behavioural science, policy, and frontline practice, we can build stronger, more responsive protection systems. We welcome the opportunity to contribute to a shared vision of prevention, resilience, and sustained impact.
Associate Professor In Psychology, Cyberpsychology Research Network (CRN), University Of Huddersfield, UK
Meaningful protection requires more than response. It demands prevention, collaboration, and evidence-informed action. We look forward to advancing this dialogue and strengthening collective efforts to protect children and youth globally.
Gelman Professor and Chair, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA.
As we move quickly to care for our elders, we must not forget the children who will one day care for us—and who need us to show up for them now. I’m eager to interact with the many impressive people who will be joining this important meeting in Athens.
Project Manager at CESIE ETS and Coordinator of the SexSense Network
I’m very excited to be part of the Connect to Protect – Children & Youth at Risk conference and to meet many people who care about young people’s lives. Through the Bottom-Up Talks project, I’ve seen how comprehensive sexuality education can truly change lives - not just by preventing gender-based violence, but by helping young people feel confident, supported, and heard. It’s about creating safer spaces where youth can learn, share, and grow, and where their voices really matter. For me, this work is personal. It’s about listening, believing in young people, and walking alongside them as they become leaders of change. I can’t wait to share experiences, learn from you, and explore together how we can make schools and communities safer and more inclusive for every young person.
Professor (Emeritus) in Human Development Flinders University
Dear ‘Connect to Protect’ conference participants. I am honored to be provided with the opportunity to present at this significant conference. The importance of the conference is nicely captured in its title. My presentation ‘Big Talks for Little People Digital Mental Health Program for primary Schools for Primary Schools: An International Program’ will highlight the importance of ‘connection’ for helping ensure the safety and wellbeing of young people in our schools.
Professor of Social Work, Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis
I look forward to connecting with colleagues as we grapple with the myriad challenges facing our most vulnerable children. The scourge of drug and alcohol addiction on family life is a perennial problem; but it is made more urgent by the emergence of increasingly potent and lethal drugs. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and share with experts across the globe as we pursue the shared goals of child safety and wellbeing.
Psychologist & Postdoctoral Researcher IASIS NGO, Research Associate, Restorative Justice and Mediation Lab, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
The Connect to Protect – Children & Youth at Risk Conference was created as a space where research, professional practice, and public policy come together to improve the protection of children and young people at risk. Children today face complex and overlapping risks, including violence, neglect, mental health challenges, social exclusion, and digital harm. These challenges require child protection systems that are not only effective, but also humane, coordinated, and trauma-informed. While the world around children is constantly changing, the fundamental rights of children remain unchanged. The principles and spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child continue to serve as a stable and universal framework that guides our responsibility to protect, support, and respect every child. In times of social, technological, and cultural transformation, safeguarding these rights becomes even more essential. This conference brings together researchers, frontline professionals, policy makers, and civil society organisations to share knowledge, reflect on current practices, and explore better ways to protect children and youth. The goal is not only to discuss problems, but to support cooperation and practical solutions that place the best interests of the child at the centre. Connect to Protect aims to build stronger links between knowledge, practice, and policy, and to contribute to child protection systems that truly protect without causing additional harm.
CONNECT TO PROTECT INSIGHTS
LATEST UPDATES & NEWS
At Connect to Protect, we share research, real-life practices, and community actions that strengthen child safety and youth wellbeing. Explore our latest updates, events, and initiatives working to prevent violence and promote protection systems across Europe.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Connect to Protect – Children & Youth at Risk Conference is an international forum dedicated to strengthening child protection and improving outcomes for vulnerable children, adolescents, and young people. Organised by IASIS NGO, the conference brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and organisations working across sectors to address the most pressing challenges affecting children and youth today.
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Philip D. Jaffé
Professor Emeritus, Vice-chair UN Committee on the Rights of the Child