(IN)VISIBLE – Online conference on children of incarcerated parents. Putting children of incarcerated parents at the center...Why I'm looking forward to the conference!

Foto: ASH

Some topics affect me not only professionally, but also personally. The life situation of children of incarcerated parents is one of them. I am therefore all the more pleased to have been invited to the conference "Children of Incarcerated Parents" on November 20, 2026.

When crimes, convictions, and incarceration are discussed, attention is usually focused on the offender. Those who bear the consequences of incarceration without having committed a crime themselves often remain less visible: partners, relatives, and especially children. Yet, for many children, the incarceration of a parent represents a profound disruption. Familiar daily routines change, relationships are strained, and often shame, insecurity, or social exclusion arise. An estimated 100,000 children in Germany alone are affected by the incarceration of a parent. Nevertheless, their perspectives still receive too little attention in research, practice, and public discourse. This is precisely where the conference comes in. It creates a space for encounters, professional exchange, and shared learning. I find it particularly valuable that, in addition to academics and practitioners, people with their own life experiences are also given a voice. Because anyone who wants to understand the situation of affected children must be willing to listen—not only to experts, but also to those who have had these experiences themselves. The program promises an impressive range of perspectives: from legal frameworks and psychological impacts to concrete support services and practical projects. I am particularly looking forward to the reports from people with lived experience and the workshops where best practices will be showcased and discussed. For me, the conference is also a reminder that restorative justice always considers those who are affected by the consequences of a crime or incarceration. Children need protection, support, and the assurance that they are seen. Their needs must not end at the prison gates.

I am very much looking forward to the encounters in the virtual space, the conversations, and the opportunity to reflect together with many dedicated people on how children of incarcerated parents can be better supported and cared for in the future. Because every child deserves to be seen and heard, regardless of their family's history.

When: Fri, 20.11.2026, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, online

Pre-program : Thu, Nov 19, 2026, 7:00 pm Film "Mitgefangen" and discussion, online or at the Breitenseer Lichtspiele cinema, Vienna

Further information can be found at https://www.ash-forum.at/site/veranstaltungen/eventman.event/240.html .