HM The King's open speech at Global Child Forum 2024

The Royal Palace, Stockholm

(The spoken word shall take precedence)

Crown Princess,
Minister,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Young delegates,

It is a pleasure to welcome you all to this year's Global Child Forum. Once again, we come together with a common goal: to ensure that children’s rights are at the core of business practices and decision-making worldwide.

Today, I would like to highlight a vital aspect of our mission: the importance of truly listening to children. Too often, children's voices - full of hope, ideas, and unique perspectives - are ignored.

Young people are directly impacted by our decisions on issues such as education, health, and social policies. They deserve to have a voice in how these decisions are made.

Last month, world leaders adopted UN’s Pact for the Future to address global challenges like climate change and inequality. It calls for a commitment by governments to listen to young people and include them in decision-making. Now we need businesses to also follow this call.

Today, you will hear from leaders across sectors who are pioneering new ways of integrating children’s rights into their business practices.

Honoured guests, thank you for being here and for your commitment to this cause. Let us move forward with a renewed dedication to listen, to learn, and to act. Together, we can build a brighter world for every child.

Once again, welcome to the Global Child Forum 2024. I wish you all a productive and inspiring day!

Thank you.