Date: October 5-6, 2026
The 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.
The event focuses on advancing academic dialogue, evidence-based practice, and prevention-oriented policies that respond to the evolving risks faced by children worldwide.
Why This Conference Matters:
Children and young people are increasingly exposed to complex and interconnected risks, including violence, neglect, exploitation, mental health challenges, social exclusion, displacement, and digital harm.
At the same time, child protection systems across Europe and beyond face growing demands and significant gaps between policy frameworks and frontline implementation.
Connect to Protect responds to this need by creating a space for shared knowledge, interdisciplinary exchange, and coordinated action.
Conference Approach:
The conference promotes a rights-based and trauma-informed perspective, recognising children and young people as active rights holders whose voices and experiences are essential in shaping effective safeguarding systems.
It highlights the importance of prevention, early intervention, community resilience, and multi-agency collaboration across social welfare, education, healthcare, justice systems, and civil society.
Key Thematic Areas:
The programme explores a wide range of contemporary child protection topics, including:
- Child protection systems and children’s rights
- Youth delinquency, violence prevention, and safeguarding practices
- Child and adolescent mental health and trauma-informed care
- Family, community, and institutional support systems
- Digital safety, online exploitation, and emerging technological risks
- Child protection in migration and humanitarian contexts
- Inclusive approaches for children with disabilities and children in alternative care
- Community-based prevention and cross-sector collaboration
Who Should Attend:
The conference is designed for:
- Researchers and academics
- Psychologists, social workers, educators, and healthcare professionals
- Child safeguarding and youth support practitioners
- Policymakers and public authorities
- NGOs and international organisations
- Students and early career professionals