Princess Madeleine and Queen Silvia of Sweden Visit N.Y.C. for World Childhood Foundation USA

Mar. 15, 2025

Princess Madeleine and Queen Silvia of Sweden visit New York City for the World Childhood Foundation anniversary.Photo:Agaton Strom

Agaton Strom

Princess MadeleineandQueen Silviaof Sweden had a mother-daughter visit to New York City for one of their closest causes —World Childhood Foundation USA.

World Childhood has invested in over 1,300 initiatives, projects and grassroots groups around the world to date, making the world a safer place for thousands of kids in the mission to end sexual abuse, exploitation and violence against children.

Queen Silvia and Princess Madeleine of Sweden in New York City on Sept. 25, 2024.Jean Catuffe/GC Images

Jean Catuffe/GC Images

The organization maintains global offices in Sweden, Germany and Brazil, and Queen Silvia and Princess Madeleine both addressed guests at the dinner in New York City.  Looking back on the progress made with sets set on a brighter future for children at risk everywhere, the Queenurged, “Still, our work is far from over. We cannot stop until every child is safe.”

The following day,King Carl XVI Gustaf’s wife and younger daughter honed in on this focus at the World Childhood Foundation USA’s summit, “Digital Guardians: Combating Online Child Sexual Abuse.” A panel at the summit convened leading experts to discuss the greatest issues challenging children’s safety online today, “specifically how technology has created even more complex and prolific avenues for offenders to reach children,” astatementsaid.

(From left) Jeff Glor, Elizabeth Letourneau, Mary Pulido, PhD, Princess Madeleine, Queen Silvia, Sarah Gardner, Camille Cooper and Jim Cole at the World Childhood Foundation USA’s summit, “Digital Guardians: Combating Online Child Sexual Abuse,” in New York City on Sept. 26, 2024.Louis Chan/World Childhood Foundation

Louis Chan/World Childhood Foundation

At the podium, the Queen spoke about the dangers of a new frontier — artificial intelligence — in this space.

“The rapid evolution of technology has become both a shield and a weapon,” the Queen said. “On the one hand, it gives us tools to protect, to educate and to connect children in ways never before possible. But on the other hand, it facilitates unimaginable harm. We have to ensure that children are safe growing up in a digital world.”

Queen Silvia at the World Childhood Foundation USA’s summit, “Digital Guardians: Combating Online Child Sexual Abuse,” in New York City on Sept. 26, 2024.Louis Chan/World Childhood Foundation

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“Child sexual abuse is a global epidemic that many still find difficult to discuss. Yet, for countless children, this is a daily reality — a silent public health crisis that we must confront together,” Pulido says in a statement to PEOPLE.

Princess Madeleine.Louis Chan/World Childhood Foundation

“Since 1999, the World Childhood Foundation has been at the forefront of the fight to protect children, working to ensure that every child can grow up in a safe and loving environment. There are very few organizations whose sole mission is combatting child sexual abuse and exploitation,” Pulido says. “Together, we can build a safer world where every child is free to explore, learn and grow without fear. Every one of us has a role to play in breaking through the silence of this crisis.”

Recapping the trip on herInstagrampage, Princess Madeleine revealed that she and her mother also met with Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine, to speak about their shared work around protecting children in the country.

“We are not done until every child can grow up safe, free from sexual abuse and exploitation,” the royal wrote.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com