Stars of the cultural evening at our first conference in Mumbai with Professor Mary Ann Muckaden (3rd left) former Chair of ICPCN and Joan Marston (3rd right) former CEO of ICPCN.
This Anniversary story shares highlights from the first three ICPCN conferences in Mumbai (2014), Buenos Aires (2016) and Durban (2018). Our fourth International Conference is being held in Manila, Philippines 12-15 November 2025. Come and join our 20th birthday celebrations! Book your place here.
‘Never before have I felt so much at home at a conference. Never before have I been surrounded by so many brilliant, kind, compassionate, unassuming and warm souls all at once. People who refuse to take no for an answer, for whom no wall is too high, no boundary impervious, no child less important than the others. People who insist on looking for the humanity that unites us all’.
Feedback from one delegate at the conference in Durban.
The first ICPCN conference in Mumbai, 2014
It was a very proud moment when ICPCN asked Tata Memorial (TMC) to organise the 1st Children’s Palliative Care Conference in Mumbai. Although at TMC, we were experienced in running International Conferences, this was for us, a very unique experience!
The conference took place in February 2014, jointly hosted by ICPCN and Tata Memorial Centre with the key theme of “Children’s Palliative Care – From Ideas to Action”. We were delighted that 235 participants representing 38 countries participated.
There was plenty of time given for exchange of ideas and some multi- organizational protocols were created with the following action points:
- Practical difficulties around clinical care and how to resolve them locally;
- the development of an evidence base for children’s palliative care;
- the importance of communication and attention to spirituality in children, in particular for neonates.
Ideas also emerged about the relevance of education and research, advocacy and leadership in promoting CPC. More details can be found in the publications listed below.
The conference culminated in the signing of the ‘ICPCN Mumbai Declaration’; which called upon governments around the world to improve access to quality Children’s Palliative Care Services. Delegates also resolved to appeal to the Belgian government, that, ethically speaking, they should not to pass a bill allowing children to be euthanised in that country.
As organisers we felt that a lot of information was gained by all participants from developed and developing countries alike. Much common ground was initiated for future efforts, and most importantly, a lot of friends made (Indian cuisine and dancing to Bollywood songs on the church grounds, by most International participants, one such example).
We deeply appreciate the opportunity we had to collaborate with ICPCN and look forward to continuing our shared mission of improving access to compassionate, high-quality palliative care for all children in need.
Paper: Read the Paper
The second ICPCN Conference in Buenos Aires, 2016
The International Children’s Palliative Care Network held its second international conference on children’s palliative care in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from the 18th–21st May 2016. The conference, held at the paediatric teaching and training centre of the Argentine Society of Paediatrics in Buenos Aires, brought together 410 participants from 40 countries.
The theme of the conference was ‘Children’s Palliative Care…. Now!’ emphasising the need for palliative care for children now, as the future will be too late for many of them. Six pre-conference workshops were held, addressing issues connected to pain assessment and management, adolescent palliative care, ethics and decision-making, developing programmes, the basics of children’s palliative care, and hidden aspects of children’s palliative care.
Plenary, concurrent, and poster presentations covered issues around the status of children’s palliative care, genetics, perinatal and neonatal palliative care, the impact of children’s palliative care and the experiences of parents and volunteers, palliative care as a human right, education in children’s palliative care, managing complex pain in children, spiritual care and when to initiate palliative care. The ‘Big Debate’ explored issues around decision-making and end of life care in children and gave participants the opportunity to explore a sensitive and thought-provoking topic.
At the end of the conference, delegates were urged to sign the Commitment of Buenos Aires which called for governments to implement the WHA resolution and ensure access to palliative care for neonates, children and their families, and also commits us as palliative care providers to share all that we can and collaborate with each other to achieve the global vision of palliative care for all children who need it.
The conference highlighted the ongoing issues in children’s palliative care and participants were continually challenged to ensure that children can access palliative care NOW.
Dr Ruti Kiman, Former ICPCN Board Member and organiser of the 2nd Conference in Argentina
Third ICPCN Conference in Durban, 2018
ICPCN held its third international conference in Durban in May/June 2018 in Durban, South Africa. The conference—inspiration, innovation and integration—brought together 250 participants from 41 countries and was held in conjunction with local partners – Umduduzi Hospice Care for Children, Palliative Treatment for Children South Africa (Patch SA) and the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of South Africa.
It built on national and global developments in palliative care such as its inclusion in Universal health coverage (UHC), the Lancet Commission report on pain and palliative care and the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and aimed to raise the profile of children’s palliative care in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and nationally.
Seven pre-conference workshops were held on topics such as pain and symptom management, children’s palliative care within a humanitarian crisis, perinatal palliative care, research, developing programmes, ethical issues and difficult conversations in children’s palliative care.
Delegates were welcomed in true Durban style at the welcome reception hosted by the City of Durban and uShaka Marine World. The opening plenary included entertainment from the Open Air School and Hillcrest Primary School, and inspirational talks from the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Health, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Chief Executive of ICPCN and the Noble Peace Prize Nominee Dr MR Rajagopal from Pallium India.
Plenary sessions were interspersed throughout the conference with 56 oral concurrent presentations and workshops, six ‘Meet the expert sessions’ 100 poster presentations and the South African Premier of the film ‘Hippocratic: 18 Experiments in gently shaking the world’. There was a great feeling of networking and learning throughout the conference.
It was great to see the progress that had taken place with regard to the development of children’s palliative care globally. It was also good to see the high standard of the research presented. The conference served as a unique opportunity to share with others working in the field and to explore issues of innovation, inspiration and integration. Most importantly, the conference was abuzz with chatter and activity during the tea and lunch breaks with delegates mixing, viewing posters and enjoying the local cuisine.
International Children’s Palliative Care Network Conference 2018
Thank you to all the dedicated people and organisations we have partnered with over the years to make our conferences such as a success.
By Lizzie Chambers, Programme Manager
ICPCN
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