Injuries and violence are a major public health burden across the globe. The 12th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (Safety 2016) will bring together over 1000 of the world's leading researchers, practitioners, policy-makers and activists to share information and experiences and to discuss solutions. "From research to implementation" will be a key theme of the conference, and discussions will focus on addressing the gap between knowledge and policy as well as promoting intersectoral preventive action.
Safety 2016 will take place on 18–21 September 2016 in Tampere, Finland. The Conference will be hosted by the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare and cosponsored by WHO. Mr Juha Rehula, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, and Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, will open the conference.
Injuries and violence cause 550 000 deaths in the European Region each year and are the leading cause of death in people aged 5–44 years. The Region includes some of the countries with the world's lowest rates of mortality from injuries and violence, as well as some with the world's highest. There are also great inequalities within countries; mortality rates are several times higher in the most deprived segments of society. As emphasized by Health 2020, injury prevention requires a whole-of-society approach with a commitment to equity throughout the life-course. The Conference will highlight innovative approaches to injury and violence prevention to further strengthen health systems capacity and response.
The Conference will be preceded by a global meeting of health focal points for violence and injury prevention on 17–18 September 2016.