Dear colleagues and friends,

Welcome to ISSOP 2019

Dear colleagues and friends,

It is with a great deal of excitement that ISSOP and our co-sponsors—American University of Beirut, International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, and the Lebanese Pediatric Society—invite and welcome you to join us at this important interdisciplinary meeting of child advocates. At no time in recent history have children been exposed to armed conflict and violence to the extent that is happening around the world—today. It is critically important that child health professionals, in collaboration with other child advocates, learn how to advance the global rights, health and well-being of these children and families.

As individuals, our voice cannot be nearly as strong as it can be together. At the end of the conference, we will, together, develop a strategy to define our roles, responsibilities and opportunities to address the impact of armed conflict and violence on children. We need your participation, please join us.

Jeffrey Goldhagen, M.D., MPH
President ISSOP

Dear colleagues and friends,

The Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut is excited to host the ISSOP 2019 Annual Meeting on its campus by the Mediterranean. This conference is organized in close collaboraton with ISSOP, the International Society for the Preventon of Child Abuse and Neglect, and the Lebanese Pediatric Society. The theme of the conference is most fitting for its locaton where Lebanon hosts more than 1.5 million Syrian, Palestinian, and Iraqi refugees half of whom are children. The conference will bring together local, regional, and global experiences to examine the health and rights of children in contexts of war, displacement, and political violence and uncertainty.

So come and share your experience at this unique and exciting conference. Contextualized scientific evidence remains one of the most powerful tools to raise awareness, inform policy, and impact change. Researchers and practitioners should work hand in hand to advocate for the rights of those children in a safer and better life. Be part of this event where you can also contribute to discussions over a strategy for the protecton of children impacted by wars, occupations, and armed confict.

Iman Nuwayhid, MD, DrPH
Dean and Professor
Faculty of Health Sciences