News and Events
Mark your calendars for these key moments
News and updates
- In November 2024, at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogotá, Colombia, the Safe to Learn partnership co-hosted a series of events highlighting the critical role of education and cross-sectoral collaboration in ending violence in and around schools:
- 6 November – Satellite Event (co-hosted with UNESCO, Coalition for Good Schools, and UNICEF) emphasized multi-sectoral partnerships and education’s role in driving systemic change.
- 7 November – Women’s Leadership Breakfast (with UNICEF and FCDO) spotlighted female leadership and reaffirmed Safe to Learn’s political and technical value.
- 7 November – Side Event on Safe and Enabling Learning Environments (with UNICEF, UNESCO, and others) featured new country commitments—including Namibia and Sri Lanka—youth advocacy, and strong partner support.
- 8 November – Parallel Session (with UNICEF) shared evidence and tools, including findings from Latin America, and called for stronger links between violence prevention and learning outcomes.
- The conference concluded with 45+ countries and several organizations made specific pledges towards safe and enabling school environments.
- On August 13th, Safe to Learn partners co-hosted a Digital Dialogue on Safe and Enabling Schools, highlighting country progress towards their VAC Ministerial Pledges, made nearly one year ago. Read the latest blog and recording for more information
Events and key moments
The below events provide opportunities for Safe to Learn partners to mobilize political and financial support for ending violence in, around and through schools.
30 April 2025: International Day to End Corporal Punishment of Children
18-21 May 2025: Education World Forum, London, United Kingdom. View agenda here.
20 May 2025: Private roundtable during the margins of the Education World Forum, chaired by Sierra Leone Minister of Education, Hon. Minister Conrad Sackey and Lord Collins, United Kingdom Minister for Africa, and attended by Ministers of Education and Ambassadors from key partners and donor countries. The private roundtable marked the launch of a Ministerial Task Force to End Violence in, around and through schools.
27-29 May 2025: G20 Education Working Group (EdWG), Pilanesberg, South Africa. Priorities for technical discussion included: Quality Foundational Learning, Mutual Recognition of Qualifications, and Education Professional Development. Outcomes from these technical meetings will inform discussions and declarations in October.
11-13 June 2025: World Anti-Bullying Forum, Stavanger, Norway. Researchers, policymakers, teachers, educators, students, and other stakeholders will gather to share knowledge, best practices, and strategies for preventing and addressing bullying.
30 June- 3 July 2025: 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, Sevilla, Spain.
14-23 July 2025: High Level Political Forum: ‘Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind,’ New York, United States.
12 August 2025: International Youth Day
9-23 September 2025: 80th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80): 'Cooperatives Build a Better World’. New York, United States.
5 October 2025: World Teachers’ Day. Theme: Empowering Educators: Strengthening Resilience, Building Sustainability.
6-9 October 2025: International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) Congress. Submit a Panel Idea for Rise Up Policy Forum (closes 30 June 2025), Vilnius, Lithuania.
22 October 2025: G20 Education Ministers’ meeting and Education Working Group, Pilanesberg, South Africa.
November (date TBC), 2025: Fifth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration, 10th Anniversary of the Safe Schools Declaration, Nairobi, Kenya. More information to come.
4-6 November 2025: World Summit on Social Development, Doha, Qatar. More information to come.
6 November 2025: International Day against Violence and Bullying, including Cyberbullying