Congress-objectives - World Safety

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES

Why Safety 2026 could be a unique and historic event – an opportunity not to be missed

The 2026 World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to be part of a historic turning point in South Africa’s—and potentially the world’s—public health journey. The world today is increasingly unsafe, with rising levels of violence, conflict, and mental-health crises exacerbated by inequality, climate shocks, and social fragmentation. The stakes could not be higher.

The conference will also take place during a period of profound national renewal: South Africa’s recently formed Government of National Unity—only the second such coalition since the democratic breakthrough of President Nelson Mandela—signals a renewed political will to tackle deep-seated social challenges.

The timing aligns with the 30th anniversary of WHO Resolution WHA 49.25, which declared violence a public-health priority and was introduced by South Africa as its first technical resolution after re-joining the WHO post-apartheid.

Safety 2026 is more than an event—it is a symbol of continuity, transformation, and collective resolve. By supporting this conference, your organisation joins a globally respected alliance of change-makers committed to advancing safety, equity, and wellbeing. With prior conferences the call to action was aimed at low- and middle-income countries where the burden of injury, violence, and mental-health challenges remains significant.

While this remains true, progress in high-income countries is under threat due to global developments that drive volatility and uncertainty.

Objectives

Catalyse Multisectoral Collaboration by fostering cross-sector partnerships between government, academia, civil society, and international organisations—while deliberately bringing new sectors to the table, including urban planning and design, the justice system, mental health, education, youth development, transport, labour, housing, climate change, finance, and the private sector—to address the structural, social, and commercial determinants of violence and injury.

Promote Evidence-Based Policies by advocating for the adoption of scientifically grounded policies and programmes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), that address the interconnected epidemics of violence, injury, and mental health.

Expand Participation and Inclusion by ensuring diverse and inclusive participation through engaging young scientists, youth advocates, people with lived experience, and under-represented voices, and by creating accessible scholarship and community-engagement platforms.

Build Capacity and Share Knowledge by providing a global platform for practitioners, policy-makers, and researchers to share innovations, lessons learned, and practical tools across five main thematic tracks and various side-events.

Create a Lasting Legacy through establishing the Southern African Injury and Violence Prevention Hub, supporting the launch of a new bi-annual national conference, and strengthening multisectoral responses through the National Support Group (NSG).

Create a global movement using the #UbuntuUnitedForASaferFuture social-media campaign and community-focused activities to raise awareness, mobilise public support, and reduce stigma related to violence and mental health.

Inspire Policy and Systems Change through generating a Conference Declaration to mobilise global consensus around integrated, multisectoral violence- and injury-prevention strategies.