Children’s Futures: A Critical Dialogue

The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Children’s Institute is convening a Critical Dialogue on Children’s Futures.

The dialogue is a key opportunity to advance the bridging of research, policy and practice, and to address the persistent and emerging challenges that compromise children’s health and optimal development – ranging from rising inequality to digital harm and climate vulnerability.

We are bringing together local and global experts – including academics, policymakers, programme managers, and civil society – to deepen collective understanding, foster collaboration, and stimulate future-oriented and evidence-based conversations.

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Highlights

Plenary discussions: Day 1

• Children’s futures: Five lessons on scale, care and complexity. Prof. Mark Tomlinson, Co-Director: Institute for Life Course Health Research (ILCHR), Stellenbosch University
• Demographic transitions and persistent challenges. Diego Iturralde, Chief Director: Demography and Population, Statistics South Africa
• From risk to resilience: Putting children at the centre of our response to climate change. Dr Christopher Jack, Deputy Director: Climate Systems Analysis Group, UCT | Irfan Akhtar, Deputy Country Representative: UNICEF South Africa | Dr Darshnika Lakoo, Research Clinician: Planetary Health, University of the Witwatersrand | Michelle Sithole, Senior Associate: Centre for Environmental Rights | Sibusiso Mazomba, Advocacy Officer: Africa Climate Alliance (ACA)

Plenary discussions: Day 2

• The future of children's rights. Prof. Benyam Dawit Mezmur, Dullah Omar Institute for Constitutional Law, Governance and Human Rights, University of Western Cape (UWC); United Nations Committee on Rights of the Child | Prof. Robert Doya Nanima, Faculty of Law, University of Western Cape (UWC); African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) | Prof. Tara Collins, School of Child and Youth Care, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU); Project Director: International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership (ICCRP) | Prof. Afua Twum-Danso Imoh, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol
• AI, digital technologies and the future of South Africa’s children. Prof. Bruce Bassett, Capitec Chair of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Stellenbosch University; Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, University of Witwatersrand | Prof. Jonathan Shock, Director: UCT AI Initiative | Dr Zaynab Essack, Research Director: Public Health, Societies and Belonging, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

While the speaker lineup is confirmed at the time of publication, appearances may be subject to change.

Programme

An overview of session topics is available in our programme outline.

Programme outline

Enquiries

For enquiries about the event programme or registration, contact info.ci@uct.ac.za