SCOTLAND’S VIOLENCE REDUCTION UNIT TO HOST WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION CONFERENCE ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION

Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle, Fife Tuesday 17 July – Thursday 19 July 2007

Scotland’s Violence Reduction Unit is to host an international conference on violence prevention on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The 3rd Milestones of a Global Campaign For Violence Prevention meeting, which will be held at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan Castle, Fife from 17 – 19 July, will bring together leading experts in the field to discuss and share the latest research, policy and practice in violence prevention.

Among the key speakers will be Professor Irvin Waller, founding CEO of the UN – affiliated International Centre for Prevention of Crime and pioneer of the UN Declaration on Justice for Victims, and Mary Gordon, founder of the Canadian-based Roots of Empathy, a not-for-profit, evidence-based classroom programme that has shown dramatic effect in reducing levels of aggression and violence among schoolchildren. Mary will discuss her work in a special plenary session with Paddy Tomkins QPM, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland.
Also present will be the Mexican Health Minister, Dr José Ángel Córdova, and Dr Kofi Ahmed, Chief Medical Officer of Ghana, who will speak about recent violence prevention initiatives in their countries.

Dr Etienne Krug, WHO Director of the Department of Injuries and Violence Prevention, will present international progress on implementing the World Report on Violence and Health, WHO's landmark study.

Many UK experts will also participate in the event, including Professor Kevin Browne, Head of the Birmingham-based World Health Organization Collaboration Centre on Child Care and Protection. Professor Browne will lead a session on the links between violence in the media and crime alongside Surrey Police Deputy Chief Constable Brian Moore. Professor Mark Bellis, Director of the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University, will look at the links between alcohol and violence.

In addition there will be a series of workshops for delegates to participate in which will cover a range of topics from the importance of early years education (led by Dr Suzanne Zeedyk of Dundee University and George Hosking of the WavE Trust) and schools-based life skills training programmes for youngsters (Campus Officer Police Constable Geoff Smith and Ian Fraser, Director of Education and Social Work for Inverclyde Council) to policing and criminal justice (Professor Irvin Waller and Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, Head of the Violence Reduction Unit).

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill will give the opening address at the conference.
In addition to the conference the Violence Reduction Unit will be holding a special one-off event featuring Professor Waller and Mary Gordon at the Hub, Edinburgh, on Friday, 20 July. This will be a unique opportunity for policy makers and practitioners to hear two world-renowned authorities speak on the value of early years initiatives in combating violence.