Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights, Elena Perikleous, participated in the 40th World Congress of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), which took place in Ottawa, Canada, from 6 to 9 August 2026, with the central theme ‘Listening to Each Other’s Voices’.
According to a press release from the Commissioner’s Office on Monday, the conference served as an important international forum bringing together people from more than 50 countries who are active in the fields of children’s and young adult literature, education, research, libraries and the protection of children’s rights.
The proceedings focused, among other things, on children’s voices and participation, inclusion and representation, literature in contexts of war, crisis and displacement, indigenous languages and cultures, as well as the new challenges posed by the digital age and artificial intelligence, the press release says.
It is noted that the Commissioner’s active contribution to the Conference’s academic programme was particularly significant, with her presentation ‘Reading Routes – Discovering Lifesaving Books’, as part of the thematic session ‘Inclusive Classrooms and Libraries: Best Practices’.
The presentation, it adds, highlighted the potential of children’s literature to serve not only as a means of fostering a love of reading, but also as a space for self-discovery and understanding others, empowering children’s voices, fostering inclusion and promoting their rights.
It also outlined the philosophy behind the Reading Routes programme, in which books are approached as ‘lifelines’, namely books that can help a child recognise and express emotions and experiences, encounter stories different from their own, develop empathy and feel that their own voice has a place and value.
The presentation further highlighted the importance of creating inclusive reading communities in schools and libraries, where every child can access high-quality books, participate meaningfully and find stories in which they can either recognise themselves or discover the world through someone else’s eyes, providing an opportunity to convey to a global audience an approach that links literature, education and children’s rights, while also building bridges for the exchange of best practice and future collaborations.
It is added that a highlight of the Congress was the ceremony for the IBBY Honour List 2026, during which Commissioner and author Elena Perikleous was honoured for her book ‘I Did It!’, selected to represent Cyprus on the IBBY Honour List, the international selection of outstanding works of children’s and young adult literature by IBBY’s national sections, highlighting works of writing, illustration and translation that stand out for their literary and artistic quality.
It is also noted that during the Congress, the Commissioner took part in the proceedings of the IBBY General Assembly, representing Cyprus in the voting process, as well as in a series of sessions and activities concerning children’s participation and voice, literature as a means of supporting children experiencing war and trauma, multilingualism and cultural identity, representation, Artificial Intelligence and digital storytelling, as well as the role of books in building communities that respect diversity.
Of particular significance were the discussions surrounding IBBY Children in Crisis, which utilises books, storytelling and bibliotherapy to support children whose lives have been disrupted by war, civil conflicts or natural disasters, as well as the emphasis on amplifying the voices of indigenous communities and the need to protect their languages and stories.