CARE Lab director Jorge Cuartas presented in one satellite event and two side events at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogotá, Colombia. The Conference was recognized in the Guinness World Records for the most countries represented at a childhood violence summit (1,400 delegates from 119 countries)

Some key messages from Dr. Cuartas’ presentations:

• Physical punishment against children is harmful across regions, countries, and cultures, and there is no evidence that it may benefit any child health, development, or behavioral outcome
• Parenting programs have been effective in preventing violence against children in multiple contexts, but there is need for further work to make these programs more acceptable, adoptable, relevant, sustainable, and scalable in low- and- middle-income countries

Dr. Cuartas also discussed the design, implementation, and current findings from Apapacho, a violence prevention parenting program in Colombia. A mother and program facilitator from Apapacho also shared their experience and perspectives about Apapacho and parenting programs in one satellite event.