Global Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference 2025
What joint initiatives can academia and broader society undertake to enhance the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ultimately supporting sustainable development in accordance with Agenda 2030? This and more will be discussed on October 10, 2025.
About the conference
Date
October 10, 2025
Venue
Conference centre Wallenberg, Gothenburg
Organiser
The University of Gothenburg
About
In 2025, the University of Gothenburg has established Queen Silvia's Professor in Global Child and Adolescent Health with a special focus on mental health. This is the second annual conference ans marks the long-term commitment by the university to expand and strengthen interdisciplinary research initiatives related to global child and adolescent mental health.
We welcome all relevant researchers, practitioners and stakeholders in the Gothenburg area to join us in building a long-term innovative and distinctive environment that integrates research, education and collaboration in the field of global child and adolescent mental health.
The conference is organised in three sessions. The first session will feature keynote speeches and a panel discussion addressing the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with a focus on the current global state of its implementation, as well as its importance and urgency. The second session will explore how multidisciplinary research perspectives can contribute to strengthening the Convention's implementation. In the afternoon, the conference will divide into three optional parallel sessions, each dedicated to at specific article of the Convention.
The conference will be preceded by a round-table discussion (by invitation only) aimed at identifying and addressing key global challenges and research priorities related to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden together with researchers and high-level representatives of globally significant organisations such as WHO, UNICEF and UNHCR, as well as regional and local stakeholders will participate in the discussion. Their contributions will serve to inspire both the following day's conference and the long-term research by highlighting the relevance and urgency of the Convention.
The conference is free of charge and includes coffee and lunch. If you register but are later unable to attend, we kindly ask that you cancel your registration so that your spot may be offered to another participant.
For more information
Please contact hogtider@gu.se
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:
- Henry Ascher, School of public Health and Community Medicine
- Maria Grahn-Farley, Department of Law
- Alli Klapp, Associate Professor, Department of Education and Special Education
- Alexandra Weilenmann, Professor in Interaction Design, Department of Applied IT.
Moderator: Elin Alfredsson, Department of Psychology
Thank you for participating! Malin Broberg, Vice-Chancellor, University of Gothenburg
16:00 – Mingle