Scientific
Programme Structure

At the heart of Safety 2026 is a three-day scientific programme grounded in excellence, relevance, and impact. Through plenaries, state-of-the-art lectures, parallel thematic tracks, oral abstract sessions, and poster presentations, the conference will showcase the latest evidence across injury prevention, violence reduction, mental health, and the structural, social, and commercial determinants of harm. The programme also extends the scientific agenda to critical emerging areas, including mental health–injury syndemics, lived experience as evidence, urban governance for safety, digital and AI-enabled prevention, climate-related pathways to harm, youth-led prevention science, sustainable financing, and the translation of global dialogue into systems change.

Under the guidance of the International Scientific Committee and with the World Health Organization as co-sponsor, Safety 2026 will balance international evidence with grounded, context-sensitive insight—positioning African leadership and scholarship at the forefront of the global safety discourse.

 
Tracks Description
Track 1 : Epidemiology & Prevention
  • Prevalence and Incidence: Research on the prevalence and distribution of injurie sand violence within populations, and on identifying population groups at elevated risk. This includes data on road traffic accidents, workplace injuries, domestic violence, and more.
  • Risk Factors: Identifying factors that increase the likelihood of injuries and violence, with particular emphasis on modifiable factors such as environmental conditions, economic and commercial determinants, and sociocultural drivers.
  • Primary Prevention: Efforts aimed at preventing the occurrence of injuries and violence through public health policies, education, and community programs. Examples include traffic safety laws, violence prevention education, and environmental modifications.
  • Secondary Prevention: Measures that focus on early detection and prompt intervention to minimize harm, such as screening programs and immediate medical responses.
  • Tertiary Prevention: Rehabilitation and reintegration programs aimed at reducing the long-term impacts of injuries and violence, including physical therapy and mental health support.
Track 2 : Collaboration, Policy and Advocacy
  • Community-Based Programs: Initiatives that involve local communities in violence and injury prevention efforts, promoting grassroots engagement and culturally relevant interventions. This may also include community resilience in conflict and post-accord settings. Note: Although abstract based these abstracts will be designed to encourage implementation organizations to showcase their work. An abstract mentorship programme will support community organizations to submit abstract.
  • Policy and Advocacy: Research on the impact of policies and legislation on injury and violence rates, and advocacy for effective legal frameworks. This may include emerging issues such as AI governance and cybersecurity to mitigate national and international safety risks beyond online harms. It may also include corporate accountability and commercial determinants from major commercial sectors (construction, automotive, tech, arms) for injury and violence prevention and safety.
  • Multisectoral Partnerships: Collaboration between various sectors such as health, education, law enforcement, and social services to address the multifaceted nature of violence and injuries. This also includes private sectors and commercial players in violence and injury reduction.
  • International Cooperation: Global partnerships and knowledge sharing to implement best practices and support countries with high rates of violence and injuries. We include global treaties, accords and collaborations with implications for public health, safety and conflict and national and international efforts to counter threats to safety through cyber disruption.
Track 3 : Programmes and Projects This track focuses on real-world initiatives and research that translates safety promotion and injury prevention into action. It emphasizes evidence-based programmes that address diverse areas of violence and injury prevention and work to strengthen systems of care and build community resilience. Presentations will explore innovative programmes, implementation experiences, and lessons learned from projects that aim to reduce harm and improve health outcomes across the lifespan. The goal is to share practical insights that inform policy, support scaling of effective interventions, and inspire collaboration for safer societies.
  • Emergency and Trauma Care: Enhancing the capacity and efficiency of emergency medical services and trauma care systems to improve outcomes for injury victims.
  • Mental Health and psychosocial support: Integrating mental health care into injury prevention strategies and addressing the psychological impacts of violence and injuries on survivors, first responders, and health care workers.
  • Disaster & Climate related injury: Understanding and addressing the impact of climate change and disasters on patterns of violence and injury and evaluating community and system-level preparedness and response.
  • Gender-based Violence prevention: Research focusing on the causes, consequences, and prevention of violence based on biological sex, gender identity or gender expression, including intimate partner violence and sexual violence.
  • Intentional Injury and Violence Prevention: Programmes and research focused on preventing intentional injuries such as gun violence, youth and community violence, elder abuse, and self-harm, with an emphasis on effective interventions and multisector collaboration.
  • Child and Adolescent Safety: Strategies to prevent injuries and violence among children and adolescents, including safe school environments, child protection services, and anti-bullying programs.
  • Unintentional injury prevention: Research on programmes and interventions aimed at preventing unintentional injuries across diverse settings, including road safety initiatives for pedestrians, cyclists, passengers, and drivers, and programmes to prevent drowning, burns, falls, poisoning, sports injuries, and other common causes of harm.
  • Occupational Safety: Innovations and programme-based approaches to preventing workplace related injuries and promoting safe work environments.
Track 4 :  Technological Innovations
  • Data and Surveillance Systems: Using technology to improve and/or innovate data collection, analysis, and sharing for better measurement, monitoring and evaluation of injury and violence and prevention programs.
  • Digital Interventions: Mobilising technology in facilitating emergency response through mobile apps, enabling virtual training and education, and fostering global collaboration and information sharing through digital platforms, thereby improving the efficacy and reach of safety initiatives. Providing AI lead counselling for survivors. Role of drones and other mobile recording and intervention technologies in facilitating safety and security.
Track 5 : Economic and Social Impact
  • Economic burden: Assessing the direct medical, nonmedical, and indirect costs of injuries and violence, including productivity losses and long-term care needs, as well as the intangible costs associated with pain, suffering, psychological distress, reduced quality of life and loss of life.
  • Economic evaluation: Evaluating the cost-effectiveness, cost–benefit, and return-on-investment of interventions and policies aimed at preventing injuries and violence.
  • Social impact: Examining how injuries and violence affect individuals, families, and communities through outcomes such as mental health, education, employment, and social wellbeing.
  • Equity and social determinants: Exploring how social factors such as poverty, inequality, and education influence the risk, severity, and distribution of injuries and violence.