Experts in the fields of education, psychology, social work, empowerment self-defense, and other related fields are mobilizing to create global action towards reducing and preventing violence and building a safer future at the Second International Violence Prevention Education Conference (VPEC) in Prague, Czech Republic on the 9th and 10th of October 2021.
VPEC 2021 is an opportunity for practitioners in the field of primary violence prevention to come together, network, create partnerships, and bring the conversation about preventing violence to a global stage.
" This conference is the way for many different International representatives in the violence prevention field to come together to share knowledge, strategies, and skills. This conference is the embodiment of the violence prevention education movement."
" This conference is the way for many different International representatives in the violence prevention field to come together to share knowledge, strategies, and skills. This conference is the embodiment of the violence prevention education movement."
~ Sensei Kim Rivers, VPEC 2020 participant, USA.
Co-hosted by ESD Global Inc. and El HaLev, the conference aims to create and explore initiatives designed to interrupt and stop violence before it starts, connecting people with the needed skills and tools to navigate the world from a safe and empowered place.
El HaLev, a Jerusalem based NGO, has been a center for violence prevention education for 17 years and works to prevent sexual, emotional and physical violence. El HaLev has designed innovative educational programs that teach women who don’t necessarily have a background in martial arts how to set boundaries and protect themselves in violent situations.
ESD Global Inc is a Boston-based non-profit that strives to bring empowerment self- defense to people of all backgrounds, enabling them to live bolder and healthier lives. ESD Global Inc has created a true paradigm shift in empowerment self-defense, making ESD accessible globally by training ESD trainers to teach in their own communities, as well as supporting research and programs that increase awareness of the importance of ESD.
The two organizations co-hosted the first International Violence Prevention Conference (VPEC 2020), in Jerusalem, Israel, February 23-24, 2020, bringing together scholars, activists, and diplomats from 24 countries and seven U.S. states.
Attendees included internationally renowned boxer, Hanna Gabriels, as well as representatives from international NGOs concerned with preventing gender-based violence and violence against children, including Safe Hands for Girls in Gambia, Peace Jam, and The Global Well Being Fund.
VPEC 2020, featured presentations and workshops focused on violence prevention education, with an array of topics ranging from training early child-care workers to helping victims of economic violence to online risks of cyber bullying.
“If females around the world can come together as one voice, the impact we’d make would be so enormous!"
“If females around the world can come together as one voice, the impact we’d make would be so enormous!"
~ Adanma Nwokoma, VPEC 2020 participant, Nigeria
VPEC 2020 participants such as Adanma Nwokoma, a strong advocate for women’s rights and freedom from Nigeria, went on to create a true cultural shift in their own communities. Adanma amplifies the voices of women and advocates about the importance of violence prevention education on the Network Service of Radio Nigeria.
* Join us in building a safer future. Apply to speak at VPEC 2021! *
Check out this recap from VPEC 2020:
Note: During these challenging times of Coronavirus, we understand the apprehension about making plans to attend an international conference which may require air travel and a hotel stay. While we hope to see you in person at VPEC 2021, we are developing plans to ensure that everyone will have an opportunity to participate in the conference, be it in person or virtually.
