Global Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference 2025

Programme

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989, is an international agreement aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of children worldwide. Since its adoption, it has served as a guiding framework for how we care for and support the world’s youngest and most vulnerable populations.

Today’s children and young people face numerous challenges in an increasingly turbulent world – including violent conflict, the climate crisis, digital transformation and socioeconomic vulnerability – all of which contribute to both physical and mental health concerns. 

There is an urgent need for research and education focused on children’s mental health and well-being, approached from a life-course and inclusive perspective. Only through interdisciplinary and multisectoral collaboration can we build a world where all children can grow up safely and with their rights fully respected.

The conference will be held in English.

08:00 – Registration

08:30 – Welcome and Recap Round Table 

Malin Broberg, Vice-Chancellor, University of Gothenburg, and Anja Huizink, Queen Silvias Professorship in Global Child and Adolescent Health 

08:45 – High-level Introduction to the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Status, Global, Important, Urgent
How effectively is the Convention on the Rights of the Child being implemented globally and nationally today? Short presentations providing an overview of the current landscape.

• Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Control, WHO
• Denys Uliutin, Minister of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine
• Pernilla Baralt, Secretary General UNICEF Sweden & honorary doctor, Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg
• Camilla Waltersson Grönwall, Minister of Social Services, The Government of Sweden
• Helene Öberg, Secretary General, The Prince Couple’s Foundation

9:45 – Exploring the Convention
Maria Grahn-Farley, visiting professor, Department of Law, University of Gothenburg and Coordinator of HRJust, an EU funded Consortium

10:15 – Break

10:45 – Queen Silvia’s Professorship in Global Child and Adolescent Health
Anja Huizink, Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg/Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam

11:15 – Multidisciplinary Perspectives on the Convention
How can multidisciplinary research perspectives contribute to strengthening the implementation of the Convention? Short presentations to map the area.

• Anna Sonnander, Senior Lecturer, Sociology of Law Department, the Child Rights Institute, Lund University
• Henry Ascher, Professor of Public Health and Associate Professor in Pediatrics, School of public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg
• Therése Wissö, Associate Professor in Social Work, Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg 

12:00 – Lunch

13:15 – On Articles of the Convention – Optional Parallel Breakout Sessions
How can we deepen our research related to specific articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child to strengthen its implementation in practice? 

• Article 3: The best interests of the child
  Moderator: Elin Alfredsson, Senior Lecturer, Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg
  • Johan Melander Hagborg, Senior Lecturer, Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg
  • Therése Wissö, Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg
  • Anna Sonnander, Senior Lecturer, Sociology of Law Department, the Child Rights Institute, Lund University
• Article 6: The right to development
  Moderator: Eva Billstedt, Psychologist, Professor of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg
  • Maj-Britt Posserud, Visiting Professor, Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg & Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Bergen, Norway
  • Johan Dahlstrand, Doctoral Student, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg
  • Karin Graube, Librarian at The Pediatric and Adolescent Hospital Library, Queen Silvia’s Children’s Hospital, Gothenburg
  • Nermin Alsalim, Youth Ambassador, Fryshuset, Gothenburg
• Article 12: The right to be heard
  Moderator: Cecilia Wallerstedt, Professor of Education, Academy of Music and Drama, University of Gothenburg
  • Ylva Ågren, Senior Lecturer in Child and Youth Studies, Department of Education, Communication and Learning, University of Gothenburg
  • Ebba Kostmann, Regional Development Officer, The Children’s Mission, Department of Cultural Affairs, Region Västra Götaland
  • Helen Ashtari, Young Culture Developer, Region Västra Götaland
  • Erika Isaksson, Project Manager Children and Youth, Communications Officer at Backa Teater, Gothenburg

15:00 – Break

15:30 – The Continued Work Around the Queen Silvia’s Professorship

Closure by Malin Broberg, Vice-Chancellor, University of Gothenburg

• Conversation between Professor Anja Huizink and representatives from different areas of University of Gothenburg:

Thank you for participating! Malin Broberg, Vice-Chancellor, University of Gothenburg

16:00 – Mingle