Prof Manuel Eisner attended the 1st INSPIRE Implementation Jamboree - Advancing evidence-based action to end violence against children - in Kampala, Uganda, on 24-25 June 2019, where he presented the Evidence for Better Lives (EBLS) study to an international audience. EBLS is an innovative global birth-cohort study in eight cities across the world. In each city, the early childhood development of 1500 children within their family and community contexts will be tracked. EBLS will examine exposure to violence and other adverse experiences while also striving to illuminate how families in different cultures raise and support their children.
At the Jamboree, School-based violence prevention: a practical handbook (Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019) was also launched. This handbook was written by Sara Wood, Karen Hughes and Mark Bellis from the WHO Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Well-being at Public Health Wales and Berit Kieselbach from the World Health Organization. Contributions in terms of content and peer-reviewing were made by international academics, members of UNESCO and UNICEF. Prof Eisner was among the academics who collaborated, alongside EBLS affiliate researchers Prof Catherine Ward and Prof Michael Dunne.
The handbook covers topics such as leadership and school policies but also offers information on violence prevention activities and how to evaluate them, working with/training teachers and how to involve parents in classroom initiatives.