Today, we find ourselves at a crossroads with injuries accounting for 8% of global deaths. The global burden of injuries and violence — claiming more than 4.4 million lives annually — is not borne equally. Low- and middle-income countries suffer most of this burden accounting for 90% of injuries globally and 83% of injury-related deaths, with South Africa among the most severely affected.

Injuries are not accidents. They are preventable, predictable and driven by a complex interplay of individual structural and societal determinants such as poverty; economic and gender inequality; weak criminal justice systems; inadequate policies to address violence and injuries, while individual factors like substance abuse, mental health and certain behaviours contribute to the likelihood of injuries.

This conference is an urgent call to move beyond business-as-usual. It is a call for solidarity and bold collaboration among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, civil society, and communities. We must harness our collective knowledge to scale solutions that reduce violence, save lives, and build responsive systems of care.

We will spotlight emerging evidence, innovative technologies, and lived experience across five conference tracks — from epidemiology to economic impact. But we will also shine a light on the deep, often uncomfortable realities of violence and injury: the impact of alcohol, gendered violence, the cost of in action, and the social fractures that perpetuate harm. We will bridge scientific evidence with proven solutions to generate dialogue between researchers; policy makers and practitioners,”

In the spirit of Ubuntu, we invite you to join us to build an inclusive global movement. Whether presenting cutting-edge research, mentoring future leaders, supporting community voices, or shaping policy agendas — your presence is vital.

Let us use this moment — marking the 30th anniversary of the WHO Resolution that declared violence a public health priority — to reassert our commitment to a safer, more just world. Together, we can create a legacy that reverberates far beyond the conference halls of Cape Town.

Join us. Contribute. Act. #Ubuntu4Safety