From December 1st to 9th, 2025, Bratislava hosted the international IHSOS Forum 2025 – International Humanitarian, Social & Global Health Synergies Forum, under the academic and professional auspices of the St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work. The central theme of the event was
Building on the nine-year tradition of the SPAY and IHCO platforms, the event also featured a week of pre-conference workshops focused on psychological first aid, crisis intervention, field HIV testing, and support for caregivers in social services.
The climax of the program was the IHSOS Forum 2025, held on December 8–9 at the Gate One Hotel in Bratislava, where scientific insights were shared by experts from 13 countries. "If we do not want just to feel better, but to do better, we must have the courage to go to the places where dignity is fractured and where lives are decided in silence," emphasized Professor Jozef Šuvada.
Key speakers included Marian Volkman (President of Applied Metapsychology, USA), Cami Tiska Caton (TIR and trauma resolution), Teymur Noori (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control – ECDC, specializing in HIV prevention and destigmatization), Professor Padmini Murthy from New York (UN leader for global women's health initiatives), and Dr. Hatem F. Amer (leader in health and humanitarian diplomacy).
During the panel titled "Trauma and Spirituality in a Vulnerable World," the themes of silence and meaning resonated deeply: "to see even that which is hidden in silence, and to trust that new meaning can grow even from brokenness." Karin Brániková reminded the audience that trauma is "not only a state of individual consciousness but a collective one, permeating institutions, communities, and generations." Priest Benjamin Kosnáč added the dimension of "silence and community as a space where the ability to hear and support each other's healing of traumatic experiences is restored."
The organizers called for the forum to be more than just a multi-day event—it aims to be a year-round hub for collaboration, with a concrete commitment to transforming knowledge, science, and practice into systemic change in healthcare, social services, and humanitarian work.
The complete photo gallery can be found on the official event website: IHSOS FORUM 2025
