A one-day conference from  the Association of Child Protection Professionals 

Tuesday 23rd March 2027

Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe, HP11 2JZ

The Association of Child Protection Professionals is pleased to be hosting an in person conference to consider the best research-informed policies and practices with children and young people experiencing gender dysphoria

The conference will bring together practitioners, researchers, service-users and policymakers to share knowledge around issues of gender dysphoria with professionals involved in the safeguarding of children and young people.  

The programme will include Keynote speakers, thematic parallel sessions, a panel discussion and opportunities for networking.

Conference aims:

• Theoretical understandings of safeguarding children and gender dysphoria
• Current research in safeguarding children and gender dysphoria
• Best current policies and practices in safeguarding children in the context of gender dysphoria
• Complexities and professional challenges involved in providing safeguarding services to children in the context of gender dysphoria
• Consider the legal frameworks which govern the response of professionals who safeguard children and young people with gender dysphoria
• Strengthening inter-disciplinary relationships and working effectively together with children with gender dysphoria
• Recommendations for further research, policy and practice development

Call for papers:

The conference will bring together practitioners, researchers, service-users and policymakers to share knowledge around issues of gender dysphoria with professionals involved in the safeguarding of children and young people.  

To this end, potential presenters are invited to put forward proposals that address the following broad issues: 

 • Theoretical understandings of safeguarding children and gender dysphoria 

• Current research in safeguarding children and gender dysphoria 

• Best current policies and practices in safeguarding children in the context of gender dysphoria 

• Complexities and professional challenges involved in providing safeguarding services to children in the context of gender dysphoria 

• The legal frameworks which govern the response of professionals who safeguard children and young people with gender dysphoria  

• Strengthening professional inter-disciplinary relationships to work effectively together for children with gender dysphoria 

We invite proposals for breakout sessions that help us explore these topics in one of two formats: 

• Oral paper presentation (15 minutes – plus 5 minutes for questions) – will be grouped with others under a similar theme 
• Symposium (60 minutes – three papers on a shared theme identified by the submitting authors with time for questions) 

Abstracts submitted should be no longer than 200 words. Our deadline for papers to be submitted is 18th December 2026.

Please complete our online form for Submissions and email your abstract to: conferences@childprotectionprofessionals.org.uk