Cape Town hosts International Society for Child Indicators this week

© Kathleen Rekowski - Fotolia.com

Authorities on child poverty, development and wellbeing will have an important opportunity to shift the focus of discussions to the global south and reveal new directions and approaches to research that can improve social policy and services for children.

The conference will include papers, panel sessions and discussions on a range of issues affecting children, including:

• Youth transitions to adulthood
  
• Early childhood development
  
• Child-focused indicators of social change
  
• Measurement of child poverty and inequality
  
• Child protection and violence against children

Over 200 researchers, policy-makers and practitioners will attend from more than 40 countries. These experts are concerned with the measurement of children's deprivation and development - and the translation of evidence into policy and practice. They are brought together by a common vision of a world in which children have equal opportunities and the potential to thrive and develop. The conference is about providing evidence that points the way forward to address inequality and improve children's life chances, whether children grow up in Germany, Chile, South Africa or Indonesia.

Previously held in Chicago, Sydney, York and Seoul, this year's conference will be hosted by the Children's Institute, University of Cape Town (UCT), in partnership with UNICEF, the African Child Policy Forum and the Poverty & Inequality Initiative of UCT.

For more information, profiles of the keynote speakers and a detailed programme go to www.isci2015.org or Facebook at ISCI 2015.