United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, in a prerecorded video message played at an event honoring Queen Sylvia and Princess Madeleine, urged leaders and audiences to accelerate efforts to end violence against children worldwide.

Mohammed opened by praising Queen Sylvia and Princess Madeleine for their leadership and said ending violence against children "speaks to who we are and who we choose to be as a global community." She warned "the world is shamefully failing that test," and cited a recent figure: "1 out of every 2 children on the planet, aged between 2 and 17, faced violence in the past year."

"Prevention is only 1 step," Mohammed said, adding that what follows must be "the long work of healing." She urged long-term care that "heals, empowers, and restores the dignity of every child," describing that as a matter of justice and dignity for survivors.

Mohammed pointed to recent international momentum, noting that "last year, the first global ministerial conference in Bogotá galvanized action with nearly 400 pledges to increase action and a path finding global alliance of nearly 50 countries." She said many of those countries are taking steps including developing national action plans to end violence against children, increasing investment in social services, engaging communities and religious and traditional leaders, and strengthening laws to protect children both online and offline.

While she listed those policy steps as evidence that change is happening, Mohammed emphasized the pace is inadequate for the billions of children still at risk and closed with a direct appeal: "We need you to act urgently and together so that every child can grow up safe and free from violence."

The prerecorded statement concluded with the event host thanking the deputy secretary-general for the message.