Nikos Baltas, CEO, IASIS NGO
Stefanos Alevizos, Psychologist & Postdoctoral Researcher, IASIS NGO; Research Associate, Restorative Justice and Mediation Lab, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
Sevi Voloudaki - Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum, Hellenic Republic
Elena Rapti - Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Hellenic Republic
Christina-Maria Kravvari, Secretary General for Public Health, Ministry of Health
Maria Stratigaki - Deputy Mayor of Athens for Equality, Municipal Health Clinics and Child Protection, representing the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas
Dr Gundo Weiler - WHO Representative to Greece; Head of the WHO Athens Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety
Menelaos Theodoroulakis - PhD in Social Policy, President of the board of directors of Argo federation of Greek NGOs in mental health sector
Moderator:
Elsa Poimenidou, Journalist
Moderator:
Elsa Poimenidou, Journalist
Ourania (Rania) Thraskia — Clinical Psychologist, MSc; Systemic and Family Counsellor; Educator and Author; Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Thessaloniki A’, PASOK – Movement for Change; Head of the Parliamentary Sector for Mental Health
Her Excellency Ms Alison Joy Duncan, Australian Ambassador to Greece, Romania and Bulgaria
Steven Marans, MSW, PhD — Harris Professor Emeritus in the Child Study Center; Director, National Center for Children Exposed to Violence / Childhood Violent Trauma Center at the Yale Child Study Center; Director, Trauma Service; Professor of Psychiatry
Moderator:
Evita Agapitou, LL.B., MBA, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), IASIS NGO
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by the Care and Protection of Children (CPC) Learning Network
Moderator:
Claire Greene, Assistant Professor in the Program on Forced Migration and Health at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by The Exodus Road
Moderator:
Preston Goff, VP of Global Communications & Co-Creator of Influenced™, The Exodus Road
Facilitators: Nela Pacani, Project Manager IASIS NGO; Yalin Gulbahar, EU Grant Expert IASIS NGO; Nikos Kladis, Project Manager IASIS NGO
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by Victim Support Europe
Moderator:
Anthi Aggelopoulou, Journalist
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by the Laboratory for Qualitative Research in Psychology and Psychosocial Well-Being, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Moderator:
Philia Issari, Professor of Counseling Psychology; Director, Laboratory for Qualitative Research in Psychology & Psychosocial Well-Being, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by GRIIT (Gender Equity Research and Inclusive Innovation in Technology) Network
Moderator:
Μarianna Anagnostopoulou, Psychologist-Psychotherapist (MSc), Scientific director of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Unit "Agios Markos'', ΙASIS NGO
Facilitators: Nela Pacani, Project Manager IASIS NGO; Yalin Gulbahar, EU Grant Expert IASIS NGO; Nikos Kladis, Project Manager IASIS NGO
Stefanos Alevizos, Psychologist & Postdoctoral Researcher, IASIS NGO; Research Associate, Restorative Justice and Mediation Lab, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
Moderator:
Elsa Poimenidou, Journalist
Jill Duerr Berrick, Distinguished Professor of Social Welfare; Zellerbach Family Professor, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley
Moderator:
Evita Agapitou, LL.B., MBA, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), IASIS NGO
Moderator:
Alexia Kalaitzi, Journalist
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by the Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis
Moderator:
Sarah Font, Professor of Social Work, Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by the Cyberpsychology Research Network (CRN), University of Huddersfield
Moderator:
Victoria Bousis, Cross-Media Director & Technologist
Facilitators: Nela Pacani, Project Manager IASIS NGO; Yalin Gulbahar, EU Grant Expert IASIS NGO; Nikos Kladis, Project Manager IASIS NGO
Interactive Demonstration
Emo-Battle - hands-on experience of a serious game
Prof. Olaf Kraus de Camargo, Professor of Pediatrics, Developmental Paediatrics; Co-director, CanChild Centre for Childhood-onset Disability Research; McMaster Global Ambassador, McMaster University / CanChild Centre for Childhood-onset Disability Research, Canada
Format: Hands-on serious game; approximately 10 minutes per game, with 4 players participating at a time.
Stelios Stylianidis, Psychiatrist–Psychoanalyst; Emeritus Professor of Social Psychiatry, Panteion University; Honorary President and Founder, EPAPSY
Moderator:
Elsa Poimenidou, Journalist
Stefanos Alevizos, Psychologist & Postdoctoral Researcher, IASIS NGO; Research Associate, Restorative Justice and Mediation Lab, Panteion University
Moderator:
Elsa Poimenidou, Journalist
Greetings from Nikos Baltas, CEO, IASIS NGO
Moderator:
Kostis Katsanevas, Special Advisor, Crestview Strategy, Greece
Young People from the Group of IASIS NGO
Connecting, Mobilizing, Acting: Accelerating Global Efforts to End Violence Against Children Dr Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
“Children’s Rights: The Skies are Darkening!”
Prof. Philip D. Jaffé, Professor Emeritus; Vice-Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Preventing Violence Against Children and Promoting Child-Centred Justice: The Greek National Strategy 2025-2030
Professor Dr Vasiliki Artinopoulou, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences; Director, “Restorative Justice and Mediation” Lab; Director, Institute on Crime and Criminal Justice, EPLO; Member of the SPT, United Nations — Head of the European Region
Recorded Video Message from Ai Kihara-Hunt, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children.
Reimagining Child Protection: Innovation, Partnership and Resilience against Sale and Sexual Exploitation.
Yvonne M. Vissing, Professor, Department of Healthcare Studies; Director, Center for Childhood and Youth Studies; Policy Chair, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; Salem State University
Moderator:
Evita Agapitou, LL.B., MBA, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), IASIS NGO
Athanasios Douzenis, Professor of Psychiatry – Forensic Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School; President, Hellenic Forensic Psychiatric Association
Moderator:
Elsa Poimenidou, Journalist
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by DCI Greece
Moderator:
Nantina Tsekeri, Founder & Director, Defence for Children International – Greece; Vice-President, European Child-Friendly Justice Network
Moderator:
Electra Spyrou, MSc, Social Worker. MSc in Clinical Social Work with Children, Adolescents & Families. MBA Candidate, University of Strathclyde. Head of Social Service at IASIS NGO
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by the Hellenic Forensic Psychiatric Association
Moderator:
Marie-Louise Psarra, Clinical Forensic Psychologist, 2nd Department of Psychiatry, NKUA, “Attikon” University General Hospital; General Secretary, Hellenic Forensic Psychiatric Association
Organized and moderated by HIAS Greece
Speakers:
Elli Kriona-Saranti — Managing Attorney, HIAS Greece; Lawyer at the Supreme Court of Greece
Pelopidas-Alexios Nikolopoulos — Lawyer; Head of Advocacy, Network for Children’s Rights (NCR), Greece
Marta Llonch — Lawyer, Gentium, Spain; Member of the Barcelona Bar Association legal aid service for age-determination proceedings involving unaccompanied migrant children
Ornella Fiore — Lawyer admitted to practise before the Court of Cassation, Turin; Member and Adviser, ASGI; specialist in criminal, immigration and juvenile law, Italy
Description: This workshop will explore the evolving legal and practical landscape for protecting migrant children in countries that serve as primary points of entry into Europe. As the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum enters into force, practitioners and experts from frontline states will examine how the new framework is shaping national procedures, safeguards and access to rights for children on the move. The discussion will connect policy with practice, highlighting concrete legal avenues, strategic litigation and advocacy approaches to address emerging protection risks.
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by EuroHealthNet
Moderator:
Hannes Jarke, Project & Policy Coordinator – Mental Health, Eurohealthnet
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by the Association for Free Play
Moderator:
Borbála Marosán, Junior Research Fellow; PhD Candidate in Sociology; Member, Association for Free Play
Lina Lopes, Educational Therapist; Founder of the Magnólia Method; Co-Founder & CEO, IDEAS LAB, Portugal
Description: This experiential workshop invites participants to explore how intergenerational experiences, unresolved trauma and family narratives can shape identity, resilience and a sense of belonging. Through guided reflection, personal storytelling, creative activities and reflective writing, participants will examine the patterns we may carry from one generation to the next and consider how these can influence relationships with children, young people and families. Drawing on the Magnólia Method and Lina Lopes’ work with vulnerable communities, the session creates a reflective space for professionals to move beyond theory and experience practical approaches that support emotional awareness, connection and the interruption of harmful intergenerational cycles.
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by the Institute for Children’s Futures (ICF) — Manchester Metropolitan University
Moderator:
Saul Becker, Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellor, Department of Health & Education, Manchester Metropolitan University; Founding Director of the ICF
Moderator:
Andreas Panagopoulos, Journalist
Moderator
Angeliki Doula, Psychologist, IASIS NGO
Preston Goff, VP Global Communications & Co-Creator of Influenced™, The Exodus Road
Sarah Ray, VP Global Programs & Co-Author of Influenced™, The Exodus Road
Description: This interactive workshop offers participants a hands-on introduction to Influenced™, an innovative digital safety and exploitation prevention programme developed by The Exodus Road. Drawing on frontline experience in combating child exploitation and human trafficking, the session moves beyond theory to provide practical tools, educational resources, and real-world strategies for supporting children, young people, families, and communities in the digital age. Through live demonstrations, experiential activities, and facilitated discussion, participants will explore emerging online risks — including grooming, sextortion, cyberbullying, and technology-facilitated exploitation — while gaining practical insights into implementing digital safety education within schools, youth services, community organisations, and child protection systems.
Helen Griffiths, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Moderator:
Evita Agapitou, LL.B., MBA, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), IASIS NGO
Moderator:
Chara Spyropoulou, Psychologist (MSc), CBT Psychotherapist, Head of Housing & Community Psychological Services, IASIS NGO. Scientific Director, “Connect Autism” Day Center for Autism
Session / Roundtable Discussion facilitated by the International Centre for Justice Alliance (ICJA)
Moderator:
Eftychia Katsigaraki - Head of the Directorate General for Special Legal Issues and Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice
Moderator:
Katerina Gagaki, Communications Specialist
Georgina Dimopoulos, Associate Professor of Law, Faculty of Business, Law and Arts, Southern Cross University, Australia
Description: Children’s right to participation is enshrined in Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This interdisciplinary training workshop will support professionals across sectors in translating this right into meaningful, safe and developmentally appropriate practice. Participants will explore practical approaches to scaffolding children’s participation, identify enabling factors and common barriers, and engage with insights from children and young people about what genuine participation looks and feels like across different service contexts.
Richard Weissbourd, Senior Lecturer and Faculty Director, Making Caring Common, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Moderator
Lamprini Ntountoumi, Sociologist-Researcher at IASIS NGO
Pavlos Marinakis - Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Government Spokesperson, Hellenic Republic
Sofia Voultepsi — Former Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum, Member of the Hellenic Parliament
Closing Panel and Discussion
Connect to Protect: Turning Two Days of Evidence into Global Commitments for Children
Moderator: George Katsarakis, Hellenic Philanthropy Foundation (Washington, DC)
High-level panellists:
Heracles Moskoff, General Secretary for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection
Prof. Philip D. Jaffé, Professor Emeritus; Vice-Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Oumayma Raimi Rodé, Initiatives Unit Team Leader, UNICEF Office of Innovation
Dr. Maria-Andriani Kostopoulou, President Of GREVIO (Council Of Europe), Governing Board Member Of The Marangopoulos Foundation For Human Rights
Helen Griffiths, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Joyce Mutiso, Global Protection Cluster and UNICEF
Fanny-Carlotta Rotino, Programme Officer, Child Online Protection, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
George Nikolaidis, Psychiatrist, Director of Department of Mental Health and Social Welfare, Institute of Child Health
Recorded Video Message from Julie Inman Grant, Australian eSafety Commissioner
Age restrictions are not the goal. Safety is: Why unsafe online services may require age limits
Closing reflections and conference conclusions
Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
Twenty years after the United Nations study on violence against children and with fewer than four years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the world is not on track to keep its promise to end violence against children by 2030. Violence…
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…
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.…
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 of Psychiatry Forensic Psychiatry National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School - President of the Hellenic Forensic Psychiatric Association
It is a pleasure to participate in the conference that gathers expertise from around the world and allows for discussion and exchange of views on topical issues about adolescence and parenting.
Her Excellency Ms Alison Joy Duncan, Australian Ambassador to Greece, Romania and Bulgaria
The relationship between social media and children’s mental health is one of the most important conversations of our time. It is important we ground these discussions in evidence and prioritise the best interests of the child from the start - equipping young…
Professor Emeritus, Vice-chair UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
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…
Harris Professor Emeritus of Child Psychoanalysis and Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine; Former Co-Director, Yale Center for Traumatic Stress and Recovery, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University
As we join together to consider the risks to children’s development, we will also have an opportunity to learn from one another about the protective factors that have been applied to interventions and strategies that offer hope in the face of adversity.…
Psychiatrist–Psychoanalyst; Emeritus Professor of Social Psychiatry, Panteion University; Honorary President and Founder, EPAPSY (Hellenic Association for Regional Development and Mental Health)
The contemporary mental health needs of communities in the post-COVID era, and in the period of multiple crises we are currently experiencing, require openness, innovation, integration, and the continued deinstitutionalization of our mental health services.
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…
Director, Conscious Digital
I’m incredibly excited to take part in Connect to Protect, as it brings together three of the main threads of my adult life: my nonprofit work at Conscious Digital, where we promote digital human rights, my role as a founder of the…
Professor of Social Work in Mental Health, Department of Social Work, University of West Attica, Greece Vice President of the Board, Society for Regional Development and Mental Health (EPAPSY)
Child protection continues to face critical challenges and gaps that require evidence-informed responses. This conference offers a valuable opportunity for meaningful dialogue aimed at strengthening an effective, accessible, inclusive, and child-centred system of care.
Research Fellow, Human Rights in Trauma Mental Health Program, Stanford University (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences & Stanford Law School) · Consultant, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) · Founder & Executive Director, Cadre
Meaningful cross-sector collaboration creates the conditions for holistic, culturally grounded approaches to protecting children and youth, approaches that recognise the intersecting systems of oppression shaping their lives while centring the agency and diversity of knowledge they hold. When practitioners, communities, and young…
Project Coordinator and Trainer, Differenza Donna APS, Rome, Italy
It is a privilege to contribute to this conference, a space for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collective commitment. Building a world free from gender-based violence requires feminist perspectives, shared responsibility, and the courage to transform the cultural and institutional systems that reproduce…
Head of the Directorate for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors, General Secretariat for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection | Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Greece
Distinguished guests, dear colleagues and friends, It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Athens and to the Connect to Protect International Conference. For those of us working every day with children and young people at risk, the title of this…
Senior Roving Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer Mental Health, Psychosocial Support and Intercultural Communication Unit International Organization for Migration (IOM), HQ – Athens
I look forward to sharing insights on IOM’s community-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programming and approaches for people on the move, with a particular focus on children and youth in emergency and displacement settings. I am excited to engage with…
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…
International independent child rights expert
I would like to thank all participants for their presence and for the tireless work they carry out for the benefit of children, and for the promotion and protection of their rights. I am fully aware of the commitment and effort this…
President of the Board, ANJAF – Associação Nacional para a Acção Familiar, Lisbon, Portugal
I look forward to sharing at Connect to Protect why the effective protection of children and young people begins with strengthening the family as the first and most enduring protective environment. Drawing on more than three decades of work in family policy…
Professor of Law, Te Piringa Faculty of Law, Te Whare Wānanga The University of Waikato, Aotearoa New Zealand
I am looking forward to meeting you all and sharing ideas and learning about how law, policy, and practice can work together to better protect children and uphold their rights to bodily integrity and health. I am keen to explore how children…
Director, GRIIT (Gender Equity Research and Inclusive Innovation in Technology) Network, Aston Business School, Aston University
It is a pleasure to contribute to this important conference at a time when safeguarding children in digital spaces has never been more urgent. As emerging technologies reshape everyday life, we need research, policy and practice to work together to prevent harm,…
Associate Professor of Law, Faculty of Business, Law and Arts, Southern Cross University, Australia
Children’s rights – especially their right to participate meaningfully and safely in decisions about their lives – must become “business as usual” if we are to empower children and ensure their wellbeing. This is about building trust, and giving children a safe…
ARSIS - Association for the Social Support of Youth
As a clinical psychologist working with ECPAT and ARSIS, I am thrilled to share insights from our participatory research design. By actively involving children on the move in our process, we ensure their own voices and lived experiences directly shape the digital…
Founder and Director, Defence for Children International (DCI) Lebanon & Vice President, Defence for Children International (DCI) MENA Region
It is a true honor to be part of the Connect to Protect Conference and to join a global community committed to protecting and empowering children and young people. Across the world, many children carry the invisible weight of violence, displacement, and…
Sociologist, Youth, Future and Society Association (GEGET), Türkiye
I am pleased to contribute to the Connect to Protect conference and to join this important international dialogue on children and youth at risk. I look forward to discussing how digital risks, cyberbullying, and problematic technology use can be understood not only…
Assistant Professor, Siirt University, Türkiye
I am pleased to contribute to the Connect to Protect conference and to join this important international discussion on children and youth at risk. I look forward to sharing an evidence-based perspective on how digital risks, cyberbullying, and problematic technology use affect…
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…
Founder and Chair International Centre for Justice Alliance (ICJA)
Having worked across continents on justice reform, I am convinced that child-centred justice will only deliver real change when it stops being treated as an add-on and becomes a genuine system-level shift. Connect to Protect is exactly the kind of forum where…
VP of Global Communications & Co-Creator of Influenced™ The Exodus Road
The threats facing our children have largely evolved and migrated. Today, exploitation often begins not in a dark alley but in a direct message, a gaming chat, or a social feed. I'm honored to join you at this conference to explore how…
Associate Professor of Social Psychology and Director of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Nicosia, Athens Campus
We warmly welcome participants to the Connect to Protect conference, which brings together researchers and practitioners committed to supporting children and young people in challenging environments. This event provides a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas on fostering resilience and promoting holistic interventions.…
Assistant Professor, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology
I look forward to connecting with scholars and policymakers thinking about how we can leverage data-driven insights to improve safety for children and bolster their opportunities for success.
Professor, School of Information, University of Michigan
Hello! I am looking forward to connecting with you all around issues of AI safety and creativity for future generations! I am also interested in topics related to gaming and play! Looking forward to networking, connecting, and hopefully collaborating!
Assistant Professor, Program on Forced Migration and Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
It is an honor to participate in the IASIS conference and to engage in conversations about strengthening the systems that shape young people’s safety, mental health, and opportunity. I look forward to learning how different sectors can work together to support youth…
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…
Child Protection Pediatrician; Leading Physician, at the Forensic Examination Center for Children and Adolescents (FOKUS); Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Vienna
I am delighted to join the Connect to Protect Conference in Athens and engage with experts committed to strengthening child protection worldwide. My work in forensic paediatrics and child protection has shown me the importance of early recognition and interdisciplinary cooperation in…
Professor at the Link Campus University Rome, Secretary General of the Universities Network for Children in Armed Conflict
I am deeply honoured to participate in the Connect to Protect – Children & Youth at Risk Conference and to contribute to this vital international dialogue on the protection of vulnerable children and young people. At a time when increasing numbers of…
The Swedish Agency for the Media in Stockholm, Sweden
I hope to contribute with a practical, child-centred perspective, and to learn from researchers, practitioners and public authorities working with similar questions internationally.
Executive Director Child Protection Network (CPN), Armenia
I am very pleased to join this conference and contribute to discussions on the importance of networking and cooperation in strengthening child protection systems. I look forward to sharing Armenia’s experience, learning from colleagues across Europe, and exploring how stronger connections between…
Professor of Law | Middlesex University London / KMU Academy Austria / NBS Hamburg / SRH Heidelberg and Munich / Fresenius University of Applied Sciences Cologne / University of Public Administration Bremen
Honoured to be invited to speak at the Connect to Protect International Conference in Athens. I look forward to sharing insights on technology and legal aspects and engaging with colleagues from around the world to advance collaboration and innovation in this important…
Australian eSafety Commissioner
It is a privilege to join colleagues from around the world who are committed to strengthening child protection and improving outcomes for children and young people. While the risks facing children continue to evolve, our shared purpose remains constant: ensuring every child…
Vasilios Ioakimidis, Professor of Social Work, University of West Attica Global Education Commissioner, International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)
The most interesting conversations often begin when people from different backgrounds come together around shared questions. I look forward to meeting you, exchanging ideas, and discussing the challenges and opportunities shaping child protection today. I am delighted to be part of this…
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.
Professor of Counseling Psychology; Director, Laboratory for Qualitative Research in Psychology & Psychosocial Well-Being, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA)
I look forward to an inspiring and constructive conference together.
Project & Policy Coordinator – Mental Health, EuroHealthNet
The protection of children and young people, particularly in digital spaces, is an essential aspect of mental health promotion and the prevention of mental ill-health. Addictive designs, cyberbullying, deep fakes, and misinformation pose major threats to young people’s well-being. These complex issues…
Social Criminologist - Forensic Psychologist. Adjunct Lecturer at the Hellenic Police Academy, Member of the Thematic Panel 1 of the EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation
Protecting children in the digital age requires us to understand not only the risks they face, but also the psychological and social processes that make those risks possible. I look forward to exchanging knowledge and perspectives on strengthening prevention, resilience, and evidence…
Professor in Critical Counselling in Social work and Multiculturalism, Dept. of Social Work, Hellenic Mediterranean University
The need to enhance professional knowledge and empower social workers, psychologists, teachers and counsellors to increase prevention and develop early intervention with children's violence and abuse is essential. Professional supervision in groups based on a holistic perspective may prevent compassion fatigue and…
Research Officer at the Swedish Agency for the Media
As media and technology move fast into the future, child protection becomes an ever more complex issue to grapple with. Therefore, I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect in Athens and discuss with others, equally committed to this pressing task.
Director, Forensic Pathways; PhD Researcher, Aston Business School, Forensic Pathways (UK); Aston Business School, Aston University; GRIIT Network (Gender Equity Research and Inclusive Innovation in Technology)
I am delighted to be joining Connect to Protect in Athens. Online violence against women and girls is evolving faster than the tools built to detect it, and closing that gap needs practitioners, researchers and survivors in the same room. I look…
Leading Clinical Psychologist at the Forensic Examination Center for Children and Adolescents (FOKUS); Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Vienna
I am delighted to join the Connect to Protect Conference in Athens and engage with experts committed to strengthening child protection worldwide. My work as a clinical psychologist in forensic paediatrics and child protection has shown me the importance of early recognition…
Phd Social Policy, Social Worker – Social Scientist, Head of the Department of Monitoring and Evaluation of Accommodation Shelters for Unaccompanied Minors - General Secretariat for Vulnerable Citizens and Institutional Protection - Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum
Looking forward to this international meeting focusing on child protection, risk management, and safeguarding. The children's perspective must always stay at the center of our efforts to ensure we are inclusive, fair, and truly acting in their best interests.
General director of TENENET (NGO)
Dear colleagues, dear participants, It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Connect to Protect – Children & Youth at Risk Conference. I am really honoured to be part of this important meeting of professionals who share a common commitment: to…
President of GREVIO (Council of Europe), Governing Board member of the Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights
Children exposed to intimate partner violence too often remain the forgotten victims in family court proceedings -where maintaining contact at all costs, minimising violence, and failing to hear their voices remain persistent challenges. Through its monitoring work, GREVIO is shedding light on…
Program Coordinator, Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (ASAM), Türkiye
Protection is not only about responding to vulnerability: it is about empowering children and young people to grow with dignity, safety, and hope. At ASAM, this vision is reflected in our commitment to empowering lives, fostering hope. I look forward to an…
Senior Social Worker, Trained in Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy, Scientific Coordinator of "It's Up to You(th)" – A Psychosocial Interventions Program for Youth Violence and Delinquency Prevention
Protecting young people is not only about preventing harm, it is about creating opportunities, fostering resilience, and building hope. Together, through connection and collaboration, we can empower adolescents to shape safer and brighter futures.
Sociologist, Hate Crimes expert, Police Action for Human Rights member
I welcome the work of this conference as an active police officer who consistently campaigns for the visibility and respect of LGBTQI+ people, as well as for the equality and inclusion of all vulnerable social groups. Firmly believing that policing must be…
Educational Therapist, Founder of the Magnólia Method, and Co-Founder & CEO of IDEAS LAB, Portugal
It is a true honour to join "Connect to Protect in Athens" . My work through the Magnólia Method and IDEAS LAB is rooted in a simple belief: that every child's resilience begins with a sense of identity and belonging, and that…
Advocacy Manager, Missing Children Europe
Missing children should be recognised as a red flag of underlying vulnerabilities, harm, or exploitation, and addressed as a child protection issue. Online threats, including grooming, are no longer emerging risks but current realities. Protecting children requires empowering them and ensuring their…
Expert on the Impacts of Toxic Factors on Children’s Health- President of the Cyprus National Committee on Environment and Children’s Health
Living with Digital Technology Children's Health Remains Their Inalienable Right and Our Obligation to Defense it. As scientists we must distill Scientific knowledge, on potential impacts of the non-age appropriate use of digital technology into a structured and concrete information for public…
Director of TENENET OZ/NGO
Dear colleagues, We are honoured to meet researchers, practitioners, policymakers, organisations, and young professionals committed to strengthening child protection, preventing violence, and improving support for vulnerable children, adolescents, and young people. This conference offers a space for shared learning, interdisciplinary dialogue, and…
National Programme Officer, Embassy of Switzerland in Greece
I welcome the opportunity to participate in Connect to Protect, an important occasion to bring together different perspectives and reinforce our shared commitment to the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people. I look forward to exchanging views and experiences…
Psychiatrist, Director of Department of Mental Health and Social Welfare, Institute of Child Health
There is currently a world-wide trend to regress regarding children's rights; children are often depicted as a threat to contemporary societies, requiring discipline and restraining, especially regarding their access rights to the digital world and information and communication technologies-this being done in…
MD, PhD, Professor and Head, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece; Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health, Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice, School of Public Health, Brown University, RI, USA
It is a great privilege to participate in the “Connect to Protect – Children & Youth at Risk” IASIS Conference. In a world where so many children grow up amid conflict, climate disruption, digital harms, and shrinking safety nets, achieving mental health-related…
Director, Department of Prosperity and Child Protection, The National Agency for Children and Families, Iceland
I am honoured to participate in the Connect to Protect Conference and to share Iceland’s experience in transforming child protection through prevention, early intervention, and integrated support services. I look forward to exchanging ideas with colleagues from around the world and exploring…
ECPAT International
ECPAT International and ARSIS worked together to explore the digital lives of children on the move through participatory research, alongside insights from frontline practitioners and global experts. The study shows how children navigate digital spaces in ways that are both resourceful and…
PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Utah College of Social Work
I am excited to join you in Athens this October to explore one of the most complex challenges facing children and families today — the impact of substance use on child safety and wellbeing. I look forward to the diverse perspectives we…
Psychologist, Hellenic Police – Department for Combating Racist Violence
As a psychologist with the Greek Police’s Department for Combating Racist Violence, I am confronted daily with the consequences of racism and discrimination, as well as with the importance of prevention. My experience from giving talks and conducting interventions in school communities…
Clinical Forensic Psychologist, 2nd Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Attikon” University General Hospital -General Secretary of the Hellenic Forensic Psychiatric Association
True resilience isn't built in a vacuum; it’s forged through collaboration. I’m thrilled to participate in Connect to Protect congress to discuss the evolving landscape of Forensic Psychiatry. In our field, we often focus on the 'Protect', that is the walls we…
Initiatives Unit Team Leader, UNICEF Office of Innovation
Dear colleagues, It is a privilege to join you in Athens for this important gathering. I look forward to learning from your experiences and exploring how innovation, partnerships and systems thinking can help create a future in which every child is protected,…
Assistant Professor in Educational Psychology, Special Education Department, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
I am delighted to be participating in this important international conference dedicated to child protection and the prevention of violence. I would like to warmly thank IASIS NGO and all the organizers for creating a space where research, professional practice and community…
Programme Officer, Child Online Protection, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
I am honoured to contribute to the “Connect to Protect – Children & Youth at Risk” conference and to share how ITU’s work on child online protection helps to build safer and more empowering digital environments. As children’s lives become increasingly shaped…
Director and Research Lead, Parents International
I am yet to meet a parent who does not want the best for their children, and I have worked with parents for more than 35 years. I look forward to exploring how we can better support parents—not only to want the…
President of the National Organisation for women shelters and young women shelters in Sweden
I am honoured to participate in the Connect to Protect Conference, an important forum that brings us together. 'The conference provides a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, strengthen collaboration, and advance efforts to protect children from violence in all settings. Violence against…
Clinical Psychologist at the Forensic Examination Center for Children and Adolescents (FOKUS); Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Vienna General Hospital / Medical University of Vienna
It is a pleasure to be part of this conference and to connect with professionals from diverse backgrounds who share a commitment to strengthening child protection. I look forward to exchanging perspectives on education, clinical practice, and innovative approaches to improving the…
Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Social Work, University of Novi Sad & Center for missing and exploited children
Dear participants, I am honored to welcome you all to Athens for the Connect to Protect Conference. As researchers and practitioners, our shared commitment to safeguarding child rights and fostering safe environments in sports and community contexts has never been more vital.…
MSc, Med, PhD, Postdoc, Associate Professor Department of Social Work, University of West Attica Chair, Society for Mental Health of Children and Adolescents (EPSYYPE)
As this initiative comes to Greece, we are inspired by the enduring spirit of PHILOXENIA, a deep-rooted commitment to openness, care, and human connection, bringing participants together and fostering knowledge, shared experience, and a common vision for a future in which every…
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…
MSc -Senior Research Associate, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) – Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Greece
Child protection and the prevention of violence have long been at the forefront of the European Union's efforts to build safer, more inclusive, and resilient societies. I am honoured to participate in the Connect to Protect Conference on behalf of the VANGUARD…
Professor of Criminological Psychology, University of Crete
I am particularly pleased to welcome the 1st International “Connect to Protect” Conference, taking place at a critical time when children’s rights are increasingly under pressure. Today, more than ever, protecting the child—the “young” human being—requires vigilance, political will, and collective action.…
Assistant Professor in Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences, European University Cyprus
Originally trained as a mathematician and now specialising in Quantitative Education, I am committed to using data to make educational and social inequalities visible and inform efforts to address them. At Connect to Protect, I look forward to sharing how rigorous data…
Human Rights Lawyer; Founder & CEO, Defence for Children International – Greece; Vice President, Child-Friendly Justice European Network
Protecting children is a shared responsibility. This conference offers a meaningful opportunity to strengthen safeguarding, learn from one another, and confront the realities of violence affecting children. Most importantly, it calls on each of us to listen and act, so that every…
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.
ECPAT International
ECPAT International is pleased to present our research highlighting the complex role digital technologies play in the lives of children on the move, serving as both essential tools for communication and navigation and as spaces where risks of exploitation can emerge. Our…
Legal Coordinator, ELIL (European Lawyers in Lesvos)
In times of rapid socio-political change and widespread conflict, initiatives such as the Connect to Protect International Conference provide an important space for intersectional dialogue that centres children’s rights, highlights good practices and identifies critical institutional gaps. These spaces bring us together…
Executive Director, INTERSOS HELLAS
The work with children on the move starts from the most urgent and concrete needs: understanding each young person's situation, reconstructing their journey, identifying risks, and accompanying them step by step through the services they need. Making this transition visible is the…
Professor in Clinical Neuropsychology, Co-Director - Centre for Clinical Neuropsychology Research (CCNR). Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement – Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
I am very much looking forward to the Connect to Protect conference in Athens this October. For me, this isn’t just an academic gathering; it is a critical opportunity to ensure that earlier, better support systems—strictly aligned with the UNCRC—become a reality…
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences - Coordinator of the Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology Division of the Hellenic Psychological Society (ELPSE) - MB member of EPAPSY
Child protection and the prevention of violence require coordinated, multilevel actions grounded in solid empirical evidence. These efforts should actively involve youth and community participation, and offer new perspectives on life’s challenges and demands. This conference presents a unique opportunity to present…
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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