HM The Queen's speech at the workshop Risks and Opportunities of AI for Children: A Common Commitment for Safeguarding Children

Childhood. Listen to this word. I hope it stirs up thoughts and memories of play, safety, and care, because that is what childhood should be. A time for safe exploration, growth, learning and development.

The period from birth to the age of 18 is one of the most special phases of human life. So special, in fact, that it is recognised and protected by the most widely ratified international treaty in the world: the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Every child has rights. And as adults, we bear the responsibility to protect these rights.

Yet as we know, we continue to fail. Too many children are deprived of their fundamental rights to survival, development, protection, and participation. It is unacceptable that, to this day, children are denied access to basic health care, education and the security of loving, responsible adults.

That is also why I founded the World Childhood Foundation 25 years ago, with the mission to combat child sexual abuse - one of the most horrific crimes against children, and one that occurs on an unimaginable scale. Recent global prevalence data shows that one in five girls and one in seven boys experience some form of sexual violence during their childhood.

Child sexual abuse remains a crime surrounded by stigma, guilt and shame. But let us be clear: child sexual abuse is never the fault of the child. As adults and institutions, it is our duty to break the silence, listen actively to what children are telling us, and shift the blame where it belongs - with the perpetrators. Brave survivors are leading the way. Some are here with us today. We stand with you.

Child sexual abuse occurs in every society, every social class, every culture and every religion across the globe. However, some children are more vulnerable than others. Marginalised, such as children with disabilities, children in institutions, and children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersexual (LGBTQI) face a significantly higher risk of abuse. We are here today for all the children who are deprived of their rights.

From the very beginning, the World Childhood Foundation has embraced technology, including artificial intelligence, as a tool for preventing child abuse. It serves as a means to reach and empower vulnerable children and a way to detect and stop perpetrators. But it is a double-edged sword. Technology has also been exploited by abusers to reach children on a massive scale, luring them, exploiting them and spreading abusive material. The accountability of tech providers has been insufficient. Artificial intelligence, undoubtedly, presents new challenges, offering perpetrators new ways to harm children.

However, artificial intelligence can also help us catch up, offering groundbreaking solutions to combat the problem. Technology is not inherently good or evil. We will need AI to fight AI.

The need for action is urgent. This technological revolution is unfolding at lightning speed. We stand on the edge of a paradigm shift that is reshaping the lives and childhoods of future generations. Yet none of us can fully grasp the true implications of generative AI for children growing up today. Now is the time to identify the risks and contribute to solutions to ensure Artificial Intelligence is used to benefit and protect children, not those who seek to harm them.

Finally, let us recognize that this is not about technology alone. It requires engagement from every field. This is a matter of child rights, science, business, ethics and policy. That is why I am delighted to see such diverse perspectives and expertise in this room. To succeed, we must listen and learn from one another – and act – together.

Thank you!