The International call for FASD prevention starts here.
Join us today.
International Discussion Session on FASD Prevention and Legislative Cooperation
Ennis, Ireland – 13 May 2026
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
As part of the international conference organized by FASD Ireland
Discussion led by French MP Perceval Gaillard and MD Denis Lamblin, SAF France’s Chairperson
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are the leading preventable cause of neurodevelopmental disability worldwide. Yet despite scientific consensus on prevention, prenatal alcohol exposure remains widespread across many countries. This international working session in Ireland will bring together policymakers, institutional leaders and prevention stakeholders to help move FASD prevention higher on the political agenda and accelerate legislative cooperation across Europe and beyond.
Register now to join the discussion and help shape the next phase of coordinated action.
Journalists are welcome to attend this meeting
Why this meeting matters
FASD is not a marginal issue. It is a major public health challenge with lifelong consequences for children, families and societies.
Across Europe, at least 2% of children are estimated to be born with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, representing nearly 100,000 children every year. In Ireland, FASD is estimated to affect between 2.8% and 7.4% of annual births, or around 6,000 babies each year. In France, alcohol consumption during pregnancy still affects around 27% of women, with an estimated 13,800 babies born with FASD annually. The human cost is profound. The economic cost is equally significant, reaching an estimated €4.6 billion each year in Ireland and €18 billion in France.
The challenge is clear. So is the need for stronger political, legislative and cross-sector cooperation.
Solutions exist! This session has been designed to create a space where experience, evidence and public responsibility can meet. Not for another general conversation, but for a strategic exchange focused on concrete progress.
Why attend
This working session is for professionals and decision-makers who want to do more than acknowledge the problem. It is for those who want to help build the policy conditions for better prevention.
By joining this session, you will be able to:
- compare national realities and legislative approaches
- identify common barriers to effective prevention
- contribute to a strategic dialogue between public authorities, elected representatives and civil society
- explore practical pathways for stronger legislative action
- connect with peers committed to making FASD prevention a shared European priority
This is an opportunity to step into a higher-level conversation on prevention: one that connects frontline realities with political leverage.
They are attending
MD Denis Lamblin, SAF France Chairperson
Perceval Gaillard, French MP for Réunion Island
Tristan Casson-Rennie, FASD Ireland, CEO
A proven model can inspire broader action
One of the strongest foundations for this discussion is the experience of Réunion Island (FR).
While alcohol exposure during pregnancy remains high in many settings, Réunion Island has succeeded in reducing the rate to around 7% through a structured prevention model built on sustained political commitment, close coordination between health, social services and education, and continuous awareness campaigns. This result points to a credible and replicable model that can help inform public policy at national and international level.
This session will help turn that experience into shared learning and collective momentum.
What this session aims to deliver
The ambition is clear: to make FASD prevention a shared political priority across Europe and internationally, building on prevention models that have already demonstrated results.
It is not a general awareness event, but a practical international working session bringing together policy actors, field experts and public health advocates.
By registering, participants join a collective effort to move from concern to coordinated action, with the aim of creating clear follow-up beyond the event.
This event is brought to you by SAF France, French national non-profit dedicated to FAD Prevention; French MP, Perceval Gaillard and FASD Ireland, Irish non-profit dedicated to FASD prevention and awareness.
FASD Ireland Annual Conference
The event « An International Call to Action for FASD Prevention and Legislative Cooperation » is held as part of the FASD Ireland annual conference. Taking place over two days on May 14th and 15th, 2026, the conference will focus on the theme « FASD and Justice. » It will bring together the Irish and European communities to address critical issues regarding prevention and the support of individuals living with FASD. We cordially invite you to join us for this landmark event.
