March 4, 2026 – The Global Caregiver Forum convened global leaders in Madrid on January 15–16, 2026, to drive urgent action toward universal support for parents and caregivers. Co-hosted by UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and the Government of Spain, with support from the Global Initiative to Support Parents (GISP) and the LEGO Foundation and held in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain, the Forum reinforced a clear message: investing in caregivers is essential to achieving equitable outcomes for children and societies.
The event was well-attended by over 300 people from 37 countries, including ministers, thought leaders, civil society and private sector partners. Participants emphasized that caregiver support must be treated as foundational social infrastructure — embedded within national systems, backed by sustained financing, and strengthened through cross-sector collaboration. The conversations underscored the need to move from isolated initiatives to coordinated, scalable action that recognizes parents and caregivers as central to child development, wellbeing, and social progress.
The Forum concluded with a call to action for governments, partners, and communities to prioritize universal caregiver support and accelerate global, regional, and national momentum. An Outcome Document was endorsed by seven countries, including Spain, with more countries in the process of endorsing it. Read the outcome document here.
Watch the Global Caregiver Forum’s recorded sessions on YouTube and continue to follow the momentum as governments, partners, and stakeholders accelerate universal caregiver support worldwide.