Lithuania Invites The World To Speak Up For Children: Ispcan Congress Comes To Vilnius

The return to educational institutions encourages more public discourse on child safety. While the topic of child rights should never be seasonal, this fall will bring it into special focus – from October 6 to 9, Vilnius will become the global capital of child protection, hosting the ISPCAN Congress for the first time. This is one of the most significant international events in the field of child rights and well-being, bringing together between 800 and 1,000 experts from over 60 countries – spanning medicine, psychology, education, law, and public policy.

Every day, five children die from violence. Each year, more than one billion children worldwide experience abuse. One in five girls and one in seven boys are victims of sexual exploitation. The ISPCAN Congress aims to change these statistics. Previously held in countries such as Qatar, Italy, Canada, Estonia, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, the Congress serves as a vital platform where science, policy, and practice converge to drive real change in children’s lives.

“Hosting the Congress in Lithuania is not only a recognition of our efforts but also an opportunity to share our experiences and learn from others,” says Edita Žiobienė, Lithuania’s Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights, who initiated the effort to bring the Congress to Vilnius. “It’s a unique chance to deepen global dialogue, adopt best practices, and work toward sustainable solutions. As children return to school this fall, communities are naturally prompted to speak more openly about child rights and safety. Yet these issues should never be seasonal – child protection is not solely the responsibility of institutions, but a test of our shared humanity.”

This year’s theme, “Child Well-being in a Changing Reality", calls for cross-regional action to strengthen policies, systems, and partnerships among governments, sectors, NGOs, and youth leaders. The Congress will showcase strategies for building public health-based child protection systems, promoting data-driven decision-making, and bridging research with practice to create effective and responsible interventions.

“Children are our most precious resource, but we are not prioritizing child well-being. Every nation is facing more school shootings, increasing suicides, and children are paying the price. Child protection is not  a privilege—it should be the norm in every society. We have a duty to build a world where every child, regardless of where they are born, can grow up safe, healthy, and with the chance to reach their full potential,” says Pragathi Tummala, CEO of ISPCAN. “This year, Vilnius becomes the place people working in every sector of child protection prevention and response come together to share best practices and seek solutions. Child abuse and neglect are preventable, and we have the solutions. I invite you to join us as we innovate together.”

The Congress will culminate in the “Rise Up Policy Forum” on October 9, bringing together government representatives, policymakers, public health agencies, and global experts to co-create strategies for strengthening child protection. Topics will range from investment effectiveness to breakthrough approaches such as safe schools, parenting support, and multisectoral interventions. The goal is to leave a lasting impact on the region by fostering sustainable family support, improved institutional cooperation, and better conditions for child well-being.

Mayor of Vilnius Valdas Benkunskas hopes that the decisions made in the capital will contribute to children's well-being both in Lithuania and globally. “It is an honor for our city to provide a platform for professionals from around the world who are united by a common goal — protecting children. At the same time, this significant congress is an opportunity to strengthen Vilnius’ international visibility, build connections with global experts, and generate not only knowledge, but also economic value for the city,” says V. Benkunskas.

From medicine, psychology, law enforcement, education, public health, and social work to sports, religious organizations, NGOs, and policymakers – the ISPCAN Congress brings together a wide spectrum of expertise. This diversity serves a common goal: to develop solutions that address today’s challenges and create real change for the benefit of children.‌

The scientific leads of the Congress are Dr. Abigail Casas-Muñoz, Chair of the ISPCAN Board of Directors and Head of the Scientific Committee (National Institute of Pediatrics (INP) / National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and Dr. Roma Jusienė, Professor and Director of the Institute of Psychology at Vilnius University. Together, they assembled a team of scholar-practitioners who carefully reviewed submissions and selected the most impactful presentations.

Keynote speakers include Prof. Dr. Rimantas Kėvalas, Head of the Pediatric Clinic in Kaunas, Lithuania, and internationally renowned experts such as: 

•    John Carr, OBE – Member of the Executive Board of the UK Council on Child Internet Safety, Secretary of the UK Children’s Charities’ Coalition on Internet Safety, Senior Expert Adviser to the United Nations,
•    Jennie Noll, PhD – Professor, Department of Psychology and Executive Director of Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester, USA,
•    Jeremy Shiffman, PhD – Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Global Health Policy, Johns Hopkins University, USA,
•    Maria Keller-Hamela – Representative of the Empowering Children Foundation, Warsaw, Poland,
•    Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid – UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children,
•    Agnes von Maravić – Head of the Children’s Rights Division, Council of Europe.

Organizers: The Office of the Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights of the Republic of Lithuania, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, together with the Faculty of Philosophy at Vilnius University. Partners: The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania, the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania, and the non-governmental organization Save the Children. Supporters: The Institute of Hygiene, and the international scientific publishing company Elsevier. The organizers thank the city’s development agency, Go Vilnius, for its role in bringing this international congress to the Lithuanian capital. The event is expected to generate an estimated €1.9 million in economic impact for Vilnius. Congress communication partner – the Digital Ethics Center. 

More information and registration: https://ispcan.org/congresses/vilnius2025
The Congress is open to all interested participants.

About ISPCAN. The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) is a U.S.-registered nonprofit organization founded on July 7, 1977, by Henry Kempe. ISPCAN unites professionals from medicine, psychology, law, education, social work, and public policy into a global learning community and active network dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, providing support, and strengthening international collaboration. ISPCAN members work to ensure that children’s rights and health are not just aspirations but realities in every country. The organization advocates systemic, sustainable public health changes that improve the lives of children and families worldwide. www.ispcan.org