35 countries, more than 360 participants and over 100 speakers at the 1st International Conference on Child Protection and Violence Prevention, organized by IASIS Civil Non-Profit Company on October 5–6 in Athens. The focus was on the need for coordinated action, giving children themselves a voice, and addressing the new threats of the digital age.

With the participation of leading international experts, representatives of the United Nations, international organizations, universities and policymakers, Connect to Protect – Children & Youth at Risk, the 1st International Conference on the Protection of Children and Young People and the Prevention of Violence, concluded in Athens. The conference was organized by IASIS Civil Non-Profit Company on October 5–6, 2026, at the Royal Olympic Hotel.

Over two days, more than 360 participants from 35 countries and over 100 speakers met across four parallel conference rooms, exchanging scientific knowledge, practical experience and proposals for strengthening child protection systems.

The conference hosted representatives of the United Nations, the UNICEF Office of Innovation, GREVIO of the Council of Europe, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as well as a contribution from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner. Researchers and academics affiliated with internationally recognized universities, including Yale, Harvard, Berkeley, Columbia, Exeter, Huddersfield and Aston, also participated, alongside representatives from Panteion University and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

With the support, auspices and cooperation of the Ministry of Health, as well as a broad network of institutional and scientific organizations, Connect to Protect highlighted a shared conclusion: child protection cannot be limited to declarations and isolated interventions. It requires ongoing cooperation, investment in prevention and the active participation of children themselves in decisions that affect them.

United Nations: “Child Protection Is Not an Expense; It Is an Investment”

The need to turn international commitments into concrete action was emphasized by Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence Against Children.

“We must make children and young people trust institutions again,” she stressed, pointing out that their protection must begin in the environments where they live and grow up. “Children do not live in ministries or conference rooms. They live in communities,” she said, calling for better coordination among social care, health and education services.

The UN representative warned against fragmented strategies that often fail to be implemented in practice. She emphasized the need to map existing structures, clearly allocate responsibilities and establish specific timelines.

“If we do not see child protection as an investment, the system will not work,” she noted, also highlighting the importance of the economic empowerment of families and universal access to healthcare services for children.

Care as the Foundation of Child Protection

Philip D. Jaffé, Vice-Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, spoke about the multiple threats children face today.

In his speech, entitled “Children’s Rights: The Skies Are Darkening!”, he referred to armed conflicts, climate change, economic uncertainty and digital threats, describing an international environment in which children’s rights are under increasing pressure.

“It is not enough to bring experts together in the same room. ‘Connect’ means recognizing that every child has an inherent right to life, survival and development,” he emphasized.

The professor placed the need to treat care as essential social infrastructure at the center of his remarks. He also addressed artificial intelligence, stressing that every technological application must be assessed in terms of children’s rights and its impact on the safety, equality and freedom of minors.

The Voice of Young People: From Delinquency to a Second Chance

Among the most powerful moments of the conference were the personal testimonies of two young people participating in IASIS programs, who spoke about their experiences with the justice system, social marginalization and their efforts to reintegrate into society.

The first became involved in delinquent behavior at the age of 16 and was imprisoned for four months. He described how the support he received from the IASIS Connect Center in Thessaloniki helped him seek a different path in life.

“When I got out of prison, I didn’t know what to do. I went to the IASIS Connect Center in Thessaloniki, where the staff, psychologists and social workers helped me and showed me that I could achieve much more. That is how I found the right path,” he said.

Addressing parents and society, he emphasized the need for more support structures for young people to help prevent delinquency and promote social reintegration.

The second young man described his initial distrust when he was referred to an IASIS psychologist following his involvement with the justice system.

“At first, I thought the psychologist would treat me as a criminal, too. After three sessions, I began talking about my life and realized that he did not see me that way,” he noted.

He also highlighted the lack of psychosocial support in schools, explaining that at the vocational high school he attended, a psychologist visited only once a month to serve hundreds of students.

Both testimonies highlighted the need for systems that do not stigmatize young people but instead offer them meaningful opportunities for support and reintegration.

Artificial Intelligence and Human Trafficking: New Threats to Children

Particular emphasis was placed on emerging forms of exploitation developing in the digital environment.

Preston Goff, Vice President of Global Communications at The Exodus Road, an international organization working to combat human trafficking, highlighted how criminal networks exploit technology and artificial intelligence.

He explained that victims of human trafficking are recruited through fake job advertisements on social media and are subsequently forced, under threats and violence, to participate in online scams.

Artificial intelligence is used to create fake identities, faces, voices and translations, making scams increasingly convincing.

He described a form of double exploitation: on one side is the person forced to commit the scam, and on the other is the person being deceived.

For children, the risk is particularly serious, as online communication enables perpetrators to approach minors from anywhere in the world.

Digital safety, the role of online platforms and age limits were also discussed during the international dialogue, with the participation of Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner.

69 Measures to Prevent Violence Against Children

Vasiliki Artinopoulou, a professor at Panteion University, addressed the situation in Greece and the need to develop comprehensive prevention policies. She presented the National Strategy for the Prevention of Violence Against Children and the Promotion of Child-Friendly Justice 2025–2030.

The strategy is based on three pillars: violence prevention, child-friendly justice and social mobilization.

It includes 29 proposed policies, seven flagship actions, five cross-cutting interventions and 69 specific measures, supported by a five-year operational plan and evaluation indicators.

Key priorities include expanding Children’s Houses, strengthening mental health services and improving cooperation among the organizations involved.

“Prevention is transformation. Victimization can lead to social exclusion and criminality, while early prevention leads to reintegration and the interruption of harmful pathways,” she stressed.

Concluding her remarks, she reminded the audience that “behind the numbers and strategies, at the end of the day, there are real children.”

From Scientific Knowledge to International Cooperation

The two-day program included keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, experiential workshops, research presentations and presentations of innovative programs.

The sessions examined, among other topics, children’s mental health, the prevention of violence and abuse, the protection of unaccompanied minors, child-friendly justice, online exploitation, juvenile delinquency, social reintegration and the need to strengthen cooperation among government services, the scientific community and civil society organizations.

The central message of the conference was clear: effective child protection requires not only scientific knowledge and institutional commitments, but also meaningful cooperation, ensuring that policies translate into real support in every child’s daily life.

“We focused on solutions that already exist individually in each country. The purpose of the conference is to bring them all together and create a portfolio that will be accessible to everyone, so that we can be effective in addressing these issues,” said Nikos Baltas, co-founder and Director General of IASIS Civil Non-Profit Company.

Connect to Protect 2026 concluded by highlighting the need for a more coordinated and people-centered approach to child protection, emphasizing prevention, early intervention and respect for children’s rights.

What Is the Situation in Greece?

Juvenile delinquency is currently undergoing significant changes, both quantitatively and qualitatively, with new forms of delinquent behavior and risks emerging that were not encountered in the past.

The rapid development of the internet, despite the significant opportunities it offers, creates new challenges. Meanwhile, successive social and economic crises, the pandemic, armed conflicts and broader international instability have left their mark on children’s psychological well-being and everyday lives.

Within this complex reality, the needs of minors are changing and the challenges are becoming increasingly demanding.

This new situation makes it imperative for professionals working with children to adapt by adopting modern approaches, strengthening their ability to respond quickly and implementing meaningful prevention and support interventions. The goal is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to overcome difficulties and grow up in a safe and supportive environment.

How Does IASIS Contribute to Addressing the Problem?

IASIS Civil Non-Profit Company operates day centers for young people and families throughout Greece, primarily in Athens and Thessaloniki.

An important role in supporting children and their families is played by its Mobile Unit, which operates in the Ionian Islands and provides comprehensive psychosocial and medical care to families facing difficulties and complex challenges in their daily lives.

At the heart of its intervention is the Connect model, a holistic approach that does not focus solely on addressing a child’s problem, but also considers the wider environment in which the child grows and develops.

The main objective is to create a strong support network by connecting children and their families with healthcare and mental health professionals, social services, schools, the local community, the Church and IASIS professionals.

Through cooperation among individuals and organizations, the aim is to create a stable environment of safety, trust and care that strengthens children’s resilience, helps them overcome difficulties and establishes the conditions for healthy, well-rounded development.

“I think that is the key: we do not address the problem directly, but create a framework that empowers the child to overcome it independently,” says Stefanos Alevizos, Scientific Director of IASIS Civil Non-Profit Company.

About IASIS

IASIS Civil Non-Profit Company is an organization with many years of experience in mental health, social inclusion, child protection and support for vulnerable groups.

It develops and implements services, research and educational initiatives, and European projects, connecting scientific knowledge with social intervention and policymaking.