ISPCAN, the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, organizes the largest conference in the world focused on child abuse.

In 2025, the ISPCAN Congress will take place in Vilnius, Lithuania, from October 6-9.

Together for Girls, the Safe Futures Hub and the Brave Movement will lead on and take part in several sessions.

See Together for Girls, Safe Futures Hub and the Brave Movement in action at ISPCAN 2025:

Bridging Research Gaps in Childhood Sexual Violence Prevention: Unlocking the Power of Practice-Based Knowledge

Date: Tuesday, October 7
Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Venue: Zeta 2
Speaker: Arti Mohan, Lead Technical Specialist, Practice-Based Knowledge, Safe Futures Hub

Historically, academic research has dominated the knowledge landscape, often overlooking insights from frontline practitioners, survivors, and communities. Practice-Based Knowledge (PbK) refers to the practical, real-world expertise gained through years of experience, reflection, and adaptation by those working directly in childhood sexual violence (CSV) prevention and response. While PbK is often informal, unevaluated, and undocumented, it provides crucial preliminary understanding in areas where formal research is limited.

This workshop is based on the pioneering PbK framework developed by the Safe Futures Hub (co-led by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI), Together for Girls, and WeProtect Global Alliance), designed to redefine the landscape of knowledge creation in the field of CSV prevention.

Building Safe Futures: Evidence from Low- and Middle-Income Countries on What Works to Prevent Childhood Sexual Violence

Date: Wednesday, October 8
Time: 13:30 – 13:45
Venue: Epsilon

Speakers:

Nicolas Makharashvili, Executive Director, Safe Futures Hub
Ashleigh Howard, Senior Manager, Data, Evidence and Policy, Together for Girls

Childhood sexual violence remains a global crisis, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where data on effective prevention strategies are limited.

Safe Futures Hub's evidence review fills a significant evidence and knowledge gap in LMICs, where research on effective childhood sexual violence prevention strategies remains limited and fragmented. This review consolidates and categorizes 72 studies to provide clear, evidence-based guidance on what works in low-resource settings, highlighting effective, promising, and prudent interventions.

Bridging the Gap: How Governments Can Lead with Vision, Evidence, and Practice to End Childhood Sexual Violence

Date: Thursday, October 9
Time: 15:45-16:45
Venue: Beta 2

Speakers:

Chrissy Hart, Senior Director, Data to Action, Together for Girls
Nicolas Makarashvili, Executive Director, Safe Futures Hub
Lina Digolo, Capacity Strengthening Specialist, Safe Futures Hub

This interactive workshop brings together two global initiatives, To Zero and the Safe Futures Hub (SFH), to explore how a bold, unified vision, grounded evidence, and practice-based knowledge can accelerate national efforts to end childhood sexual violence (CSV).

Participants will explore what it takes to translate these enablers into national policies and systems through a real-world example from Kenya.

The session will also engage participants in small group dialogue, using a futures-thinking approach to reflect on what’s working, what’s holding us back, and what gives us hope.

Bridging the Knowledge Triad: Integrating Data, Practice-Based Expertise, and Lived Experience to Strengthen Child Protection

Date: Thursday, October 9
Time: 13:30 - 14:30
Venue: Beta 1

Speakers:

Chrissy Hart, Senior Director, Data to Action, Together for Girls
Nicolas Makarashvili, Executive Director, Safe Futures Hub
Arti Mohan, Lead Technical Specialist, Practice-Based Knowledge, Safe Futures Hub
Lina Digolo, Capacity Strengthening Specialist, Safe Futures Hub
Constanza Ginestra, Research and Policy Specialist, Together for Girls
Manuela Balliet Ahogo, Africa Regional Advisor, Policy and Research, Together for Girls
Michelle Duffy, member of Brave Movement Northern Ireland

This interactive workshop will explore how the “knowledge triad” — scientific data, practice-based expertise, and the lived experiences of survivors, children, adolescents, and youth — can be integrated to create stronger, more responsive child protection policies and systems.

Safe to Learn: A Breakthrough Approach to Ending Violence Against Children through Safe and Enabling Schools

Date: Thursday, October 9
Time: 15:45-16:45
Venue: Beta 1

Speakers:

Constanza Ginestra, Research and Policy Specialist, Together for Girls
Manuela Balliet Ahogo, Africa Regional Advisor, Policy and Research, Together for Girls

Country presentations and case studies—featuring data collection efforts by Together for Girls—will highlight how stronger data can drive national strategies, enhance protection systems, and ultimately reduce violence in schools.

The panel will bring together experts and government leaders to share practical tools, highlight cross-sector solutions linking education and child protection, and explore how evidence-driven approaches can strengthen systems and deliver on global commitments to keep children safe to learn.

NOTE: These sessions will not be live-streamed, and are only open to ISPCAN 2025 Congress attendees.