Last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke via video message during the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia. It was the first joint appearance the Sussexes have made since their trip to the country in August.
In the video, which you can watch above, Meghan and Harry addressed a cause that is important to them: fighting digital violence against children. For the speech, which appeared to be filmed in California, the couple coordinated in dark blazers, accessorising with poppy pins. Meghan’s blazer appears to be the Parker Wool Crepe Jacket from Ralph Lauren.
“The first ever ministerial conference on ending violence against children comes at a crucial time, and quite frankly, should not be required,” Harry began. “But, here we are. We are at a crossroads where the urgency to reassess and redefine our approach to protecting children has become increasingly evident. While the necessity has always been apparent, it is now time to translate that awareness into meaningful action.”
The Duchess of Sussex continued, “My husband and I recognise that today’s reality is marked by greater connectivity and advanced technology, which of course has many positives, but which also compels us to better understand how digital violence against children is manifesting itself in this age. At the Archewell Foundation, we engage with young people, families, and experts worldwide learning how every aspect of a child’s life — from their livelihood to their physical and mental wellbeing — now operate within an online economy that has the power to both shape, and misshape, our connections.”
The Sussexes then spoke about launching the Parents’ Network, which Harry described as “a support network for families dealing with online harm. Through trauma-informed practices, we help parents come together to forge strong bonds, offering healing support through community with the ultimate goal of prioritising safety at the source.” Meghan added that the stories of the parents from the Parents’ Network “have helped us to understand that as we better equip parents and caregivers, and work to establish norms around the use of and access to technology as they relate to preventing violence, we must also commit to establishing standards that prioritise children’s safety.”
Prince Harry concluded their video message with a call to action: “Young people are calling for help. Families are desperately seeking support. They are urging us to leverage the resources in this room to confront the new reality our youth are facing. We look forward to the actions and outcomes of the discussions that will take place here in Colombia, and are grateful for the leadership, expertise, and testimonies that will come together in this room to address all forms of violence targeting the most vulnerable in our world.”
Meghan ended by sharing, “Thank you again for your commitment to preventing violence against children, both offline and online. Together, we can harness this moment to drive lasting change.”
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