UK World Childhood Foundation

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  • “You are part of something big”

    “You are part of something big”

    Paula Guillet de Monthoux and Kenneth Bengtsson are the Secretary General and Chair of the Board, respectively, of World Childhood Foundation. As 2025 now draws to a close, they extend their sincere thanks to everyone who, in different ways, has contributed to Childhood’s work. Read their greeting below.

    Dear Childhood Friend,
    You are part of something big. You are part of something that began as a bold idea in 1999 and has grown into a global network of dedicated people working to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. You are part of the World Childhood Foundation.

    As 2025 draws to a close, we want to thank you for being with us.

    At Childhood, we work with a long-term perspective. We therefore want to begin by looking back 20 years to when Sweden’s first Barnahus opened in Linköping – thanks to Childhood. Our founder, HM The Queen, had the idea a year earlier during a state visit to Iceland. With equal amounts of courage and patience, The Queen brought others along. Today, there are 33 Barnahus in Sweden.

    Over these 20 years we have spread the model to Moldova, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, and most recently, Brazil. It is the result of the work of brave, persistent, and dedicated individuals. It is the result of the long-term commitment of people with a passion for our cause:

    From HM The Queen to you and everyone who, in different ways, protect children. From small villages in Southeast Asia to major cities like Munich, New York, São Paulo, and Stockholm.

    We move between different arenas and mobilize actors. Locally and globally. Always with the same goal – to strengthen the protection of children and stop perpetrators. A true champion who shares this goal is this year’s recipient of the Childhood Award – Elin Nelly, analyst at the Police Authority in Stockholm.

    In 2026, we will continue to expand our network of dedicated people. You can help us do that. Tell others about what we do – tell them that, together, we create lasting change for children. Now and in the future.

    Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

    Paula Guillet de Monthoux, Secretary General, World Childhood Foundation

    Kenneth Bengtsson, Chair of the Board, World Childhood Foundation

    Photo: Charles Mingo Bennström

  • From Promise to Progress

    From Promise to Progress

    New York, 6th November 2025 – Leaders and advocates from governments, international organizations, and civil society gathered at United Nations Headquarters to strengthen their collective engagement to protect every child from violence.

    The high-level event, co-organized by World Childhood Foundation, the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations, and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, brought together survivor-led initiatives, grassroots organizations, international agencies, and Member States to advance collective action that protects children, amplifies their voices, and ensures that no child is left behind.

    Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Vice Honorary Chair of World Childhood Foundation, attended the meeting, reaffirming her longstanding commitment to safeguarding children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

    Building on the momentum of the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence against Children, held in Bogotá, Colombia, in November 2024—the first-ever of its kind—participants reflected on progress made for children through global cooperation and partnership. They also acknowledged the urgent need to confront the mounting threats facing children worldwide due to conflict, displacement, climate change, food insecurity, and social exclusion.

    Speakers highlighted the urgent need to translate global commitments into measurable progress for children, stressing that sustained partnerships, data-driven action, and survivor-centered approaches are key to ending violence in all its forms.

    Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children:

         “Ending violence against children can’t wait anymore. Too many children are paying a huge price. Their suffering is the face of our collective failure. So, let’s act now, together, for and with children!”

    Paula Guillet de Monthoux, Secretary-General, World Childhood Foundation:

    “Conflicts, displacement, a harsh shift in narrative, and shrinking aid budgets have stretched families and systems to a breaking point. But this is precisely why we gather here today. We cannot wait. Moments like this test whether “leave no child behind” is a slogan or actual practice.”

    Ambassador Nicola Clase, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations:

    “Upholding children’s rights and dignity has long been a key priority for Sweden. By working together, we can build societies where every child is safe, valued, and free from harm.”

    As the world faces multiple and intersecting crises, participants reaffirmed that protecting children from violence is essential to realizing the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals—a world where every child can grow up safe, respected, and free from harm.

    Together, participants called for renewed investment, stronger partnerships, and concrete action to scale up proven solutions—so that every child can live free from violence.

    Access the event on UN TV here: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1w/k1w4y1xhm6

    Photo: Roshni Khatri


    Media Contacts World Childhood Foundation:
    Charles Mingo Bennström
    charles.bennstrom@childhood.org, +46 (0)73-422 04 42

  • “More people must take action”

    “More people must take action”

    Regular visits to our partners around the world are at the heart of our work. It´s about strengthening relationships, provide on-site guidance, and ensure the impact of our joint efforts. It´s also about connecting with other stakeholders, investors and enablers. Therefore, our four programme managers visit our partners several times a year. In early October, Petra Alexander — one of Childhoods two communications managers — visited South Africa together with programme manager Åsa Olsson. Read her travel story below.

    “Early in October, I had the privilege of visiting our partners in Cape Town, South Africa, together with my colleague Åsa Olsson, responsible for our work in South Africa. 

    How do you capture five days in a city of contrasts? Days filled, from morning to night, with encounters with countless dedicated people who fight every day so that more children can grow up safe and protected. Who turns ideas and visions into reality. Who meet children growing up in vulnerability where violence – not least gender-based – and sexual abuse and exploitation are part of everyday life. Among them:

    Waves for Change that teaches children, including them with autism, to catch waves on a surfboard – while strengthening, protecting, and giving them hope and confidence.

    Heroes Academy South Africa that, through their program, so far has empowered over 400 boys to become agents of real change, giving them hope for the future. Some boys have for their first time disclosed sexual abuse and received support.

    Jelly Beanz that offers a safe space where children who have experienced abuse receive child-friendly and professional support – often in the company of Toffee, the fur therapist. 

    Gender Rights In Tech that provides justice for survivors of gender-based violence through innovative technology, child and youth-led research, data-driven reporting, and capacity-building.

    The Parent Centre and Mikhulu Trust – both working in different ways to strengthen parents and create safe, caring adults and environments around children. The network SAPPIN that brings together organizations across South Africa to implement parenting support programs.

    I’m also incredibly happy for the opportunity to finally meet Lucinda Evans – one of our most passionate changemakers that we’ve collaborated with for many years. Visiting the Philisa Abafazi Bethu Women and Family Center, which she has built – partly with our support – was truly inspiring.

    Childhood currently works with 12 project partners in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa – alongside a broad network of other stakeholders dedicated to strengthening the country’s child protection systems.

    I left Cape Town with a feeling of hope, pride, and deep respect for the impact our partners have on children’s lives. But I also carry with me a lingering sense that we all need to do more. More people must take action, invest and stand up for every child’s right to a safe childhood — not only in South Africa.

    And it must happen now – not later.

    Have you read this far? Then you are already dedicated to children’s safety. Childhood has the expertise and network to drive change. We scout innovations and connect people. We build capacity. You can be a part of that.”

    Contact us!

  • 2025 United States Out of the Shadows Index

    2025 United States Out of the Shadows Index

    World Childhood Foundation USA is proud to announce the release of the The U.S. Out of the Shadows Index that examines the actions—and inactions—taken by individual states to address child sexual abuse and exploitation. This report scores all 50 states plus the District of Columbia

    Child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) is a devastating issue affecting millions of children across the United States (US). While estimates vary, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that at least one-in-four girls and one-in-20 boys in the U.S. will experience sexual abuse during childhood.

    Yet, CSAE prevention and response efforts remain inconsistent across states. Many of the systems responsible for keeping children safe—including education systems, child protection, criminal justice and healthcare services—are primarily the responsibility of individual states. As a result, policy and practice often vary widely, while also making it complex to identify gaps and track progress.

    To help shine a light on this critical issue, the US Out of the Shadows Index explores the steps individual states are taking to tackle CSAE. The index provides a roadmap for action, helping policymakers, advocates and communities identify what is working, where progress is stalled and what must be done to bring CSAE out of the shadows.

    Key findings reveal:

    • Despite growing awareness of CSAE, state-level prevention and response remains insufficient and fragmented. Across the 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC) the average score in the index is just 49.9 out of 100. If these scores were equated to academic grades, just five states—Washington, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Oregon—and D.C. would achieve above an F grade (Figure 1).
    • Prevention capacity building is dragging down states’ index scores. Notable gaps include the absence of statewide action plans, limited professional training requirements and a lack of institutional policies that set clear standards for preventing and responding to sexual misconduct.
    • While many states have policies and programs that are critical to preventing CSAE, a lack of requirements that such measures be implemented leave gaps. Although a majority of states (38) and DC having laws addressing school-based child sexual abuse prevention education, just over half mandate that students receive this instruction. The remainder encourage or permit such education, without explicitly requiring it.
    • Systems often fail to account for the impacts of trauma and the barriers survivors encounter when seeking justice and support. For example, statutes of limitations (SOLs)—the legally defined timeframes within which criminal charges or civil claims must be filed—remain an obstacle in many states. Such restrictions often conflict with the lived reality of survivors, who may need decades to come forward, making short SOLs and time-barred support unfair.
    • Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) play a key role in the response to CSAE, yet funding challenges continue to hinder operations. CACs bring together a multidisciplinary team of professionals—including police, child protection services, medical professionals and more—to work collaboratively under one roof and ensure the child’s well-being remains a central priority. Yet many CACs report persistent funding challenges, exacerbated by federal cuts, limiting their capacity to meet service standards and growing demand.
    • Many states are taking action to address children’s safety online, including protection from online sexual harms. Already in 2025, more than 45 state legislatures have introduced a range of measures related to children’s online safety and social media use. Yet many of these bills have also drawn criticism, with concerns voiced over enforceability and potential restrictions of free speech and other rights. What is clear, however, is that child online safety must be part of a broader, evidence-informed strategy—one that includes digital literacy education in schools, training and tools for investigators, and stronger accountability mechanisms, including for the platforms where abuse often occurs.

    The overarching conclusion is stark: the US needs to do more to protect its children from CSAE. There is a critical need for political commitment and leadership, increased coordination and accountability and sustained investment to address this pressing crisis.

    Access the 2025 U.S. Out of the Shadows Index Report or read more on the Childhood USA website

  • Leaked: Understanding and Addressing Self-Generated Sexual Content involving Young People in Thailand

    Leaked: Understanding and Addressing Self-Generated Sexual Content involving Young People in Thailand

    A new study by Evident and the HUG Project, financially supported by the World Childhood Foundation, sheds unprecedented light on why and how Thai youth are engaging with self-generated sexual content online.

    The study is based on a survey of nearly 2,000 children aged 9–17 from seven Northern Thailand provinces, youth consultations, and interviews with law enforcement and frontline workers.

    Key findings reveal that:

    One in three older teens (14–17) reported knowing peers at their schools who had shared or received sexual content — including nude images of others they believed to be under the age of 18, adult pornography, and even AI deepfakes.

    Motivations for sharing the content included gaining likes and followers (46%), financial incentives such as money or gifts (45%), and seeking validation or affirmation (40%). A notable proportion of respondents (34%) believed that young people share sexual content because they are pressured, tricked, or coerced.

    Despite growing awareness of risks, 56% of youth agreed that technology makes it too easy to share intimate images without considering consequences.

    Young people themselves often ranked online scams and drugs as more dangerous than sexual content — showing how risk perceptions in the digital age can differ between parents and young people.

    “Often, we focus on fears rather than the realities children experience online. We must move beyond scare tactics that rely on shame or simply telling young people what not to do. To truly understand the full picture, we listened closely. The voices in this report are essential to uncovering the challenges they face, the support they need, and the solutions they want to see. Without their input, our efforts risk missing the mark.”

    Britta Holmberg, Director Global Programs & Advocacy and Deputy Secretary General, World Childhood Foundation

    Read the full report here.

    About Evident

    Evident makes evidence work for social change. They are a small Bangkok-based company focused on research projects and translating evidence into concrete actions to improve the way we look after children around the world.

    About HUG Project

    Hug Project is a Chiang Mai based foundation that exists to protect, prevent, and restore at-risk children as well as youth who have been exploited online, sexually abused, or trafficked.

  • Together for every childs right to a safe childhood

    Together for every childs right to a safe childhood

    This week, colleagues from all four Childhood offices gathered in Stockholm for our annual meeting. Over several days together, we shared insights, challenged perspectives, and strengthened our collective efforts to prevent child sexual abuse worldwide.

    As field builders, we work to identify priorities, establish research, and shape strategies that drive lasting, systemic change for the safety of children. These days reminded us not only of the urgency of our mission, but also of the strength that comes from working as one Childhood family.

    Change at this scale requires collective action. Since the beginning in 1999, partnerships have been at the core of our work. Together with our co-founders, investors, corporate partners, and passionate pioneers we have acted boldly and confronted the issues surrounding child sexual abuse and exploitation head-on.  We have been tenacious in our efforts, exploring unconventional methods and pioneering new solutions to keep children safe.

    From our offices in Sweden, Brazil, Germany, and the US, we have acted as a global force – impacting the lives of millions of children and their families. During our first 25 years we have invested more than 130 million USD in over 2,000 projects in 21 countries.

    Our commitment is clear: every child should grow up free from sexual abuse and exploitation.

  • “Strong impact worldwide”

    “Strong impact worldwide”

    Sebastian af Jochnick, long-time board member of Childhood, representing the af Jochnick Family, Co-founder of Childhood.

    What is it like to work with Childhood? 

    Inspiring! It’s a professional and well-managed organization driven by highly skilled staff and board members. This makes the work both high-quality and motivating. One thing that’s important to me is that the board is unpaid—we should not profit from our engagement. 

    How do you describe Childhood to others?

     It’s an international organization that strengthens children’s safety and protects them from sexual abuse. Its global reach is a major strength. Childhood is a small organization with a broad network and a strong impact worldwide. 

    Why should others invest in Childhood? 

    It’s a transparent, well-organized, and efficient organization. If you want to help children and young people in a concrete and cost-effective way, Childhood is the obvious choice.

    How do people react when you talk about your involvement? 

    Many are proud that Childhood is a Swedish organization. They are impressed by the Queen’s dedication and how she took on a global lead in protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. It builds trust and respect among the public. 

    What is your view on the role of philanthropy today? 

    It’s incredibly important. Personally, I don’t focus too much on the word philanthropy itself. To me, it’s about taking a stand, contributing, and having the will to help build the society of tomorrow—both locally and globally. It’s not just about donations. It’s about a way of living and thinking. 

    Right now, we see many global organizations and NGOs retreating for various reasons. That means everyone—individuals, businesses, institutions, and NGOs—must share the responsibility. More people need to decide if they want to build partnerships and work together across the world. Many new forces for good will emerge. That’s why I believe what’s happening in the world today is both good and bad. Together we can turn this into something positive. 

    Photo: Karin Boo

  • Global progress in the Fight Against Child Sexual Violence

    Global progress in the Fight Against Child Sexual Violence

    “Without data, we are flying blind. If we can’t see it, we can’t solve it.” Inspired by these words of Kofi Annan, I feel hope after an intensive year that has changed the landscape for our work.

    Child sexual abuse has for too long been a largely invisible, intangible threat. Considered too vague, too complex, too sensitive to talk about or to measure. Without facts and accurate data, we risk being frightened and paralyzed by the feeling that this is something inevitable, a constant evil, or an exponentially growing threat. That has now changed, and Childhood is part of that change.

    The first piece of good news is that we are not flying so blind anymore. In 2024, the first reliable global estimates on the prevalence of child sexual abuse were published by our partner Together for girls. It shows that 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys will experience sexual violence before their 18th birthday. These figures are alarming and unacceptable, but now we know.

    The second important milestone is that for the first time we also have a global roadmap, a joint understanding on what needs to be done to stop child sexual abuse.  The To Zero vision created through the collective efforts of activists, researchers, survivors, and civil society, points to the actions needed to end this violence. We now not only have data on the scale but also evidence of solutions and together with other private foundations we have joined forces to maximize the role of philanthropy in accelerating these efforts.

    We also see renewed global momentum and collaboration to scale up prevention of violence against children. In November I attended the first global ministerial conference on ending violence against children in Bogotá. It gathered 130 governments, and 100 of them made concrete, official pledges to do more. Survivors and children had a natural place in all sessions. From now on survivor voices must – and will – be heard. The huge interest from ministers in attending the side event on the intersection between violence and care that we co-hosted shows that children without parental care now are seen as a group that needs specific attention, something we have been arguing for since we were funded.  

    We now know the scale of the problem. We know that it is preventable. The fact that governments around the world have expressed commitment to doing more is a good start. But it is not enough. In a world where inclusion and equal rights of marginalized groups are challenged, our collective efforts and advocacy are more important than ever.

    At Childhood we will continue identifying and addressing gaps, investing in concrete solutions and elevating the voices of survivors, youth and local leaders. I am hopeful, despite the challenges. Today, more actors than ever stand with us in the fight against sexual abuse. Together we will succeed.

    Britta Holmberg,
    Director Global Programs & Advocacy
    Deputy Secretary General World Childhood Foundation

    I feel proud when I see how Childhood advocates, shares knowledge, and expertise in international arenas like the ministerial conference in Bogotá and the UN in New York. It recognizes that our long-term strategic work and the establishment of strong partnerships create ripple effects—both locally and globally. We may be a small organization, but our impact is significant.

    Kenneth Bengstsson, Chairman of the Board of World Childhood Foundation.

  • “2024 has been a testament to the power of collaboration and bold action”

    “2024 has been a testament to the power of collaboration and bold action”

    If I were to summarize not only the past year but the first 25 years of Childhood in one word, it would be people. I think of the dedicated individuals who form the backbone of our work—from the brave co-founders to the countless partners, supporters, and advocates who stand with us to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. From grassroots organizations in remote communities to those shaping policies at the highest global levels. I think of you and everyone else who contributes time, resources, commitment, and innovative ideas.

    2024 has been a testament to the power of collaboration and bold action. For example, the use of AI is now a reality in combating child sexual abuse. With groundbreaking initiatives and tangible solutions, technology is being harnessed to protect children and stop perpetrators. I’m proud to say that Childhood has played—and will continue to play—a part in this through our AI initiative, Stella Polaris.

    Another milestone was the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, held in Bogotá in November. It marked a turning point, uniting global leaders committing to stop violence against children. One week later, when we hosted the meeting ‘From Commitment to Action’ at the UN headquarter in New York —bringing together representatives from various sectors— we took further steps forward.

    There is still a lot of hard work ahead. But I truly believe that by working across borders, industries, and perspectives, we will succeed. Real change happens through people—people who dare to dream, act, and challenge norms. Who collaborates and builds bridges. Together, we can achieve the extraordinary.

    This belief is what led HM the Queen to found Childhood. What began as a bold idea 25 years ago has now grown into a global network of dedicated people driving change.

    With the same belief we will continue to drive innovation, pioneer new solutions, and push boundaries. We will further develop AI and other tech solutions, invest in perpetration prevention and identify neglected groups to reach the children most at risk.

    We will do what we do best—staying ahead of what is needed and does not yet exist. That is where we make the greatest impact. For every child’s right to a safe childhood.

    Thank you for being with us!

    Paula Guillet de Monthoux, Secretary General World Childhood Foundation

    Photo: Pontus Höök

  • Protecting Ukraine’s children – now and for the future

    Protecting Ukraine’s children – now and for the future

    It is hard to imagine the psychological stress and insecurity that children in war experience. In 2024 we intensified our work in war-torn Ukraine – a work that is more critical than ever.

    Although the war is having a considerable toll on the people in Ukraine, an impressive number of reforms, innovation and new forms of support is happening. With the words of Antonina from our partner in Zaporizhzhia: “We are under constant shelling, but we work anyway. Our office is our fortress, and we will work until the victory. We cannot forget about children during this time.”

    Childhood’s strategy in Ukraine is to both respond to urgent humanitarian needs while also seeking solutions that will contribute to a stronger country, safer for children, in the future. We have partners in all parts of the country, reaching children at risk of being separated from their families, families fleeing from the war, children who have experienced sexual abuse and other forms of violence, children from risk groups such as ethnic minorities, children with disabilities and adolescents identifying as LGBTQ. We also focus on preventing and responding to child sexual abuse online.

     “Our partners in Ukraine are incredibly strong, persistent and resourceful. I’m constantly struck by their courage and unwavering commitment. Despite extreme circumstances, they keep expanding their efforts to reach more children and families. Together, we address urgent needs while developing new approaches in trauma treatment, family support, online abuse, and child protection reforms. In times of uncertainty, our work is more vital than ever.”


    Joel Borgström, Senior Program Manager at Childhood

    Building capacity

    Several of our initiatives are aimed to support, build capacity and cooperate with Ukrainian agencies responsible for the protection of children from sexual abuse and other forms of violence. At a time when the police, the legal system and the Ukrainian social service is under unbelievable pressure, these efforts are fundamental to ensure that children are not harmed.In 2024 our partner Magnolia investigated 256 cases of suspected crimes against children reported to their online portal, developed with our support. The four Barnahus centres we helped established previous year have provided 240 children with professional support – a key factor in terms of healing but also to improve the quality of investigations and getting perpetrators convicted. Several of our partners also provided trainings for both civil society and government agencies to make sure that child sexual abuse is not ignored and neglected.

    Reforming alternative care system

    We´ve also supported on-going efforts to close the existing institutions and place children with relatives, neighbors or in foster care instead. Of particular importance is to close institutions that receive children from birth up to six years old. These are fundamental ages for child development and compulsory care during these early years can cause lifelong injuries in areas such as attachment, mental health and physical development.

    In 2024 we prevented 156 children under six years old from being placed in institutional care in the Dnipro region near the front line.

    Accelerating alternative care reform

    Children placed in alternative care are at particular risk for sexual abuse and other forms of violence. Therefor we have always invested in innovations that strengthen families, improve existing care options and a shift away from compulsory care. Besides Ukraine we did a lot within this field in Cambodia, Sweden and Thailand. In 2024, we continued raising awareness about abuse in Swedish state run institutions, advocated for early interventions, and developed better support methods for children. We presented our report on child sexual abuse in Swedish institutions at ISPCAN and co-hosted an event on care and violence during the first ministerial conference in Bogotá. We are very happy that our long-term efforts, along with other stakeholders, contributed to two major milestones being achieved in Sweden in 2024: a government inquiry was launched to reform the remaining Swedish institutions, and a child advocacy model was approved for integration into the national child protection system.

    Photo: Dmytro Golovchenko