On May 28, the Grooming Latam Network, which brings together 32 organisations from 17 countries across Latin America, held its Regional Meeting on Grooming at the University of Costa Rica. The event was convened by several leading organisations in the region, including Fundación Paniamor, under the leadership of Óscar Valverde, a member of the Coalition for Good Schools’ Latin American Hub. His long-standing commitment and leadership in the prevention of violence against children and adolescents played a key role in the success of this important regional gathering.
One of the meeting’s major milestones was the launch of the first Regional Guide for the Prevention of Sexual Violence Against Children and Adolescents Mediated by Artificial Intelligence. The guide was developed based on research involving more than 28,000 children and adolescents from 14 countries across the region. It seeks to strengthen efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to grooming and other forms of technology-facilitated violence, while fostering collaboration among governments, academia, civil society organisations, and the technology sector.
Flags of the countries that participated in the research and development of the resource offered at the event at the University of Costa Rica
The meeting concluded with the signing of a regional declaration and a renewed collective commitment to advancing a safer digital environment for children and adolescents. Participants reaffirmed the importance of regional cooperation and coordinated action to prevent grooming and other forms of online and technology-mediated violence, moving toward a Latin America that is increasingly committed to protecting the rights, safety, and well-being of children and young people.
The Regional Grooming Meeting 2026 was live-streamed from Costa Rica. You can watch the recording here: En vivo | Encuentro regional grooming LATAM 2026 en #CostaRica