11th International Consultation of Child Helplines (IC 2025)
Livingstone, Zambia, 24-26 June 2025
In June 2025, together with our child helpline member Lifeline/Childline Zambia, we convened the 11th International Consultation of Child Helplines (IC 2025) in the historic city of Livingstone, Zambia — a powerful setting near the thundering Victoria Falls – where child protection professionals gathered to exchange best practices, co-create solutions, and set strategic priorities for child helplines and the broader child protection ecosystem. The consultation was proudly endorsed by the Government of the Republic of Zambia, represented by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, and the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), among others. This year we welcomed more than 350 participants from child helplines worldwide, from the UN, government officials from countries including Kenya, Malawi, Somalia and South Sudan, and representatives from civil society and non-governmental organizations, and the telecommunications and technology sectors. Their leadership and collaboration makes a world of difference!
Children at the Centre! A Global Voice for Mental Health, Violence Prevention and Response: Envisioning Child Helplines for 2030 and Beyond
The International Consultation is a flagship event that we host with one of our child helpline members every three years, moving from region to region and bringing together our members, partners, policymakers and experts from all around the world. This year’s IC had as its theme “Children at the Centre”, envisioning child helplines for 2030 and beyond, and focused on three key themes:
- Children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
- Ending violence against children
- Addressing online harms in an increasingly digitalized world.
With a sense of urgency to tackle these topics, central to strategic vision, each was woven into sessions, workshops and dialogues that empowered participants to reimagine the future of child helplines.
- Full IC2025 Programme Book (updated 23 June 2025)
- Programme complet de l’IC2025 (mis à jour le 23 juin 2025)
Daily Highlights from the IC 2025
Click on the following links to find further information about the day’s activities, including photos and links to sessions that were live-streamed on the day.
Day 0: Addressing Online Harms Affecting Children & Young People
Day 1: Official Opening, Engaging Sessions and Cautionary Tales!
Day 2: Global Perspectives and Cross-Sector Collaborations
Day 3: From Regional Spaces to “The Livingstone Declaration”
The Livingstone Declaration
The IC 2025 concluded with the signing of “The Livingstone Declaration”. Building upon commitments, pledges and undertakings outlined in previous International and Regional Consultations, it is a statement by our child helpline members of their commitments towards strengthening and expanding child helpline services globally, and their calls for action by governments and policymakers, international organizations and donors, civil society and community leaders, and the technology and telecommunications sectors, to support child helplines and scale up efforts to eliminate harmful practices against children.
The Livingstone Declaration is not merely a statement — it’s a roadmap. As Child Helpline International and our members move forward, the commitments made in Livingstone will guide our collective efforts to ensure no child is left unheard.