1 32 The ‘social’ paediatrician would go further by working with other disciplines (includingsocial work and school teachers). <...> ISSoP.The International Society for Social Pediatrics and child health was founded in 1978 as ESSoP,the European Society. <...> Its aims were education, teaching and research in relation to social paediatrics, together with advocacy to improve children’s health. advocacy has always been acentral part of ISSoP’s work – since children’shealth is severely hampered by factors in societysuch as poverty and inequalities, marketing ofjunk food aimed at children, smoking, pollution from motor traffic, climate change and many more. <...> In a globalised society, paediatricians need to stand together with other groups in civil society groups to removethe external pressures which hamper children’shealth, development and wellbeing. originally most European countries were represented in ESSoP, the most active being Sweden,UK, Netherlands, greece, Spain, hungary, Turkey,Switzerland and Iceland. from the earlydays, there were members from outside Europe –mainly the anglophone countries canada, USa, australia and New Zealand. we are now delighted that russia is an important member with influence. <...> In 2012 it was decidedby members that ESSoP should become international and extend its remit globally – whichwas a major challenge, since global health issuesare much wider than those we encounter inEurope. <...> ISSoP would need to get to grips with malnutrition, hIV/ aIdS, malaria, female genital mutilation and child labour – as well as recruiting members from africa, South america and asia. we hope that all russian paediatricians with an interest in social paediatrics will <...>