The Department of Social Work at Holy Cross Institute of Management & Technology successfully organized GRATIA 2025, a national conference on the theme “Safeguarding Children in the Digital Age: Global Perspectives on Child Protection.” This thought-provoking event brought together experts and practitioners from across the country to discuss the pressing need to protect children in an increasingly digital world. The conference was graced by the presence of several distinguished speakers who brought invaluable perspectives to the discussion. Mr. P. Prakash, IPS, Inspector General of Police, Crime Branch of Kerala, delivered a compelling keynote on the legal challenges and enforcement mechanisms in place to combat cyber crimes against children. Ms. Sampurna Behura, Executive Director of India Child Protection (ICP), New Delhi, shared global insights and practical approaches to safeguarding vulnerable children in both digital and real-world contexts. Mr. Beeraj K, Assistant Sub Inspector from the Cyber Crime Police Station, Calicut City, provided a ground-level view with real-life case studies, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and digital literacy.

GRATIA 2025 served as a platform for meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and action, uniting academicians, law enforcement, child protection advocates, and students in a shared mission to ensure a safer digital environment for children. It was more than a conference—it was a call to action to protect the innocence and rights of the next generation.