NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, the founder of World Childhood Foundation, one of the world’s pioneering nonprofits in the fight against child sexual exploitation and abuse, and Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine of Sweden visited New York City this week to attend two insightful and thought-provoking events to commemorate the nonprofit’s 25th anniversary.
On Thursday, September 26, World Childhood Foundation USA organized a summit entitled “Digital Guardians: Combating Online Child Sexual Abuse,” which included a panel with leading experts in the field discussing the biggest issues challenging online child safety today, specifically how technology has created even more complex and prolific avenues for offenders to reach children. Emmy Award-winning journalist Jeff Glor moderated the panel, and Childhood USA Executive Director Mary Pulido, PhD, delivered opening remarks. Her Majesty Queen Silvia spoke from the podium about the terrifying new challenge that needs to be confronted head-on: artificial intelligence.
“The rapid evolution of technology has become both a shield and a weapon,” said Her Majesty Queen Silvia. “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. … I feel hope. We must win this fight.”
Fifty specially invited guests gathered for the morning summit in New York City at the Polsinelli law firm, hosted by Childhood USA Board Member Daniel Flanigan and Verizon. Pulido encouraged guests to engage and use the summit as a platform for action.
“This was a pivotal summit of experts, leaders and advocates who are passionate about solving this growing problem and protecting children worldwide,” said Pulido. “We must harness this energy and knowledge and be committed to holding technology companies and governments accountable, giving parents tools to have informative conversations with their children, and supporting organizations, like Childhood and others, that are at the forefront of this fight.”
The panel speakers were: Jim Cole, the Chief of Law Enforcement Enterprise & Technology at Operation Light Shine and retired Supervisory Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations; Elizabeth Letourneau, PhD, a Professor and Director at the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Sarah Gardner, the Co-Founder and CEO of Heat Initiative; Camille Cooper, the Vice President of Anti Human Trafficking & Child Exploitation for the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Moderated by Glor, the discussion included how the advancements in artificial intelligence can create challenges and dangers but also be leveraged to enhance the detection and prevention of online child sexual abuse. They highlighted the specific actions and responsibilities technology companies should undertake to ensure their platforms are safe for children, and the legislative measures currently in place and policies that need to be added or strengthened. Finally, each panelist detailed actionable steps the general public can take to contribute to the prevention of online child sexual abuse.
The evening before the Summit, on Wednesday, September 25, the Consul General of Sweden to New York City, H.E. Ambassador Erik Ullenhag, hosted an intimate dinner in honor of Her Majesty Queen Silvia and Princess Madeleine at the Swedish Residence. Sixty guests were welcomed to help commemorate Childhood’s 25th anniversary and learn about the achievements the nonprofit organization has led and the advancements still to come.
“We must come together now, more than ever, to ensure that every child is protected from harm,” said Princess Madeleine during the evening. “What we have achieved is the result of tireless advocacy, collective efforts, and the dedication of individuals and organizations across the globe. To continue this momentum, we must push for even stronger efforts and more substantial investments in child protection.”
To learn more about the organization’s mission and the programs they fund, please visit the Childhood USA website.
About World Childhood Foundation USA
Founded by Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden 25 years ago, Childhood USA’s mission is to inspire, promote, and develop solutions to end sexual abuse, exploitation, and violence against children. Childhood USA supports programs for children who are disproportionately affected by child sexual abuse and exploitation, including children with disabilities, children who are homeless or in the foster care system, and children from the LBGTQ+ and other marginalized communities. Childhood USA also funds research to pinpoint legislative gaps in the current system that need to be strengthened in both prevention and response to in-person and online sexual abuse and exploitation.