1st International Conference on the Role of Academia in promoting child rights

ATHENS, PATRAS, June 11 2025—Τhe conference was attended by 144 speakers from 17 countries, representing 37 universities and 12 research institutes and policy-making bodies.

The conference sessions included, among other things, the promotion of child rights in society, the inclusion of child rights in university courses with references to successful practices in various countries, access to education for all children, the role of universities in combating bullying and promoting healthy habits, strengthening quality inclusive education, active citizenship, the legal dimension of child rights and the development of Child Rights Centers in universities.

During the opening ceremony of the Conference awards were presented by the UNICEF Representative in Greece, Dr. Ghassan Khalil, to the Rector of the University of Patras, Professor Christos Bouras and the Dean of the Faculty of Education at Akaki Tsereteli State University in Georgia, Professor Mamuli Buchukhishvili, as the two universities were the first in their respective countries to establish Child Rights Centers in collaboration with UNICEF, as well as to Professor Thanasis Karalis for establishing and coordinating the first Child Rights Centre in a Greek university. The ceremony was also attended by H.E. the Ambassador of Georgia to Greece, Μr. Levan Beridze, while the Alternate Minister of Health of Greece, Dr. Eirini Agapidaki  and Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Dr. Sophie Kiladze made welcome remarks via video message.

In his speech, Dr. Khalil emphasized that there are currently Child Rights Centres operating in eleven Greek universities, with more expected to be established soon.

“We are more than proud to promote and advocate for child rights through the establishment of Child Rights Centres within Greek Universities, as they are already proving to serve as both hubs for knowledge and as vital links between Academia and society, in a pivotal moment for children’s rights around the world,” stated Dr. Ghassan Khalil. 

"I believe that the creation of a Child Rights Centre is at the core of the mission of Greek public universities. Co-organizing the Conference with UNICEF to highlight research and good practices regarding the contribution of the academic community to the promotion of the children's rights agenda is further proof that the University of Patras is outward-looking and open to society and its needs," said the Rector of the University of Patras, Professor Christos Bouras.

The conference featured key note speeches by Dr. Roberta Ruggiero, Director of the Children’s Rights Academy at the University of Geneva and academic coordinator of CREAN (Children's Rights European Academic Network), Theoni Koufonikolakou, Greek Deputy Ombudswoman for children's rights, and Professor Joao Costa, former Minister of Education of Portugal and currently Head of the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education. Also participating were Dr. Joao Breda, Head of the WHO Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety in Greece.

The Conference also hosted a panel dedicated to the role of businesses as active agents of society in respecting and promoting children's rights. The panel included Alexandra Palli, President of CSR Hellas, Sofia Stamou, Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs at Olympia Odos, and Venia Rapti, Director of Communications and Digital Marketing at Coffee Island.

The discussion highlighted the need for further partnerships with the private sector, where companies can support very important initiatives aimed at protecting and promoting children's rights.

The conference was complemented by the delegates' visit to two parallel events that were taking place during the Conference. The first was the 16th Children's Festival of the Department of Early Childhood Education of the University of Patras, which has been promoted as a good practice by the UNICEF Greece Country Office and which was visited by more than 100 participants before the opening ceremony of the Conference. The second event was the "Food for Action" Health Festival, which was part of the National Action Against Childhood Obesity, implemented by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF and coordinated in the Region of Western Greece by the scientific team of the University of Patras, headed by Professor Emeritus of Hygiene at the Department of Medicine, Michalis Leotsinidis.

During the closing ceremony of the Conference, a Letter of Intent was signed between the Rectors of the University of Patras and the University of Peloponnese (Professor Bouras and Professor Katsis) and UNICEF Representative  in Greece, Dr. Khalil, for the creation of a foreign-language Master’s program on child rights, which will be developed in partnership with UNICEF and the Child Rights Centers of the two universities.

Photos from the Conference are available here.

The proceedings of the Conference are available at https://youtube.com/live/8c4sEYgaCf0?feature=share

(first day)

and https://youtube.com/live/yyuDafgzQb8?feature=share

(second day).