The ISPCAN International Congress brought together global perspectives on preventing violence against children, strengthening families and connecting research with practice.
How can child protection systems move beyond responding to abuse and neglect to preventing harm before it occurs? And what needs to change in how governments, practitioners, researchers and communities work together? These questions were central to the ISPCAN International Congress 2026, held in Melbourne, Australia, from 24–27 August. Under the theme Transforming Approaches to Safety and Healing, the Congress brought together professionals, policymakers, young people and people with lived experience to exchange evidence, practical approaches and ideas for strengthening child protection systems.
The Congress explored six interconnected themes:
- Transforming out-of-home care, including kinship, foster and residential care, and youth justice.
- Preventing and responding to abuse, neglect and exploitation in families, communities and institutions.
- Understanding how culture, social norms and diversity influence children's safety and healing.
- Strengthening child protection through public health approaches.
- Centring children in responses to family violence, intimate partner violence and gender-based violence.
- Rethinking children's safety in digital environments.
Read more about the Congress themes, keynote presentations and highlights.
Connecting evidence, practice and policy: The RISE-UP Policy Forum
The Congress concluded with the RISE-UP Policy Forum on 27 August, bringing together 350 participants from 40 countries to explore how evidence, policy and investment can support coordinated approaches to preventing violence against children.
Family for Every Child, together with Lumos and Voice of Children Nepal, contributed to the session Caring for the Carers: The Case for a Cross-Sector Approach to Kinship Care. Drawing on evidence from 21 countries across five regions, the session examined how laws and policies recognise and support kinship carers, including those caring for children with disabilities. Discussions explored support needs, policy gaps and recommendations to strengthen family-based care.
From global conversations to local practice
For Family for Every Child, the Congress was also an opportunity for member organisations to share their experience and learn from others.
In the next two blogs, we hear from Praajak in India and Voice of Children in Nepal, whose contributions and reflections show how international discussions connect with local child protection challenges.
Coming next in the series:
- What does a safe environment for children really look like? Praajak reflects on preventing sexual violence, safeguarding in sport and strengthening community support.
- How can local evidence influence child protection policies? Voice of Children shares its experience of advocating for boys affected by sexual violence and strengthening kinship care.