The Swedish Royals and The World Childhood Foundation

[Yennie]

The dvd is ok, but imo its not worth buying for the "royal" in it. Its just the party from new years eve. But its fun to watch the clips from every month. Somethings one remember and some - not :)

And I agree with you, Josefine! They should release the royal year shows. I have the programmes from 1994-2004 on tape, but I would love to see the ones from 1977-1993!

[HMQueenElizabethII]

TO GO WITH AFP STORY "Sweden's Queen Silvia on crusade against child abuse" Queen Silvia of Sweden poses during an interview with AFP in Stockholm 08 June 2005. Sexual abuse and trafficking of children are overwhelming problems worldwide, says Sweden's Queen Silvia, whose World Childhood Foundation has been helping victims of sexual violence since 1999

[Lena]

Other part of the interview (about her foundation and child abuse):

Child abuse is getting worse - Silvia

Sexual abuse and trafficking of children are overwhelming problems worldwide, says Sweden's Queen Silvia, whose World Childhood Foundation has been helping victims of sexual violence since 1999.

"Sexual abuse is a global problem, and it's increasing," Silvia told AFP in an interview before a Paris benefit concert for her foundation.

"It's a taboo subject. It's a delicate question. But if you don't talk about it, then the children will continue suffering," she said in her office in the royal palace in central Stockholm.

Silvia, who has long worked for charity, created the foundation after repeatedly meeting with abused children during her travels.

"There came a point when I asked myself: What can I do, personally, to help these children?" she says.

She started by becoming the patron in 1996, in Sweden, of the first World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, which she calls "a very important step", coming shortly after the Dutroux pedophile scandal that shook Belgium.

"One of the good things about being queen is that you have the possibility to help and perhaps even change things for the better," she says.

The second conference, in 2001, took place in Yokohama, giving "Japan a leading role".

The World Childhood Foundation, founded in 1999, is established in Sweden, Germany, Brazil and the US. It does not run programmes itself, but supports 76 projects in 15 countries.

"We are the facilitators and I'm the mother," smiles Silvia.

The funds come from the 14 co-founders including DaimlerChrysler and SAP, and including major Swedish partners like Volvo, ICA and Vattenfall, which can enter into partnerships with the foundation.

It also relies on events like the June 19 benefit concert in Paris with the Orchestre National de France which is conductor Kurt Masur's "gift to the foundation".

Among the projects supported by the foundation are an adolescent centre in Sao Paolo, a child support centre in Estonia, a child health centre in Cape Town and a support structure for 600 juvenile inmates in a Saint Petersburg prison.

In a "babushka brigade" project in Moscow, it has helped bring abused children, homeless mothers and lonely older women together in a day care centre where they help, and learn from, each other.

Young mothers who grew up in orphanages and suffered sexual abuse often find it difficult to give their own children the love they need. "They are quite tough, and often socially and emotionally handicapped," Silvia says. "We help them to be good mothers."

In a project in Brazil, a group of girls got help to open a shop selling candles, soap and small decorated handbags, including with the accounting.

"We don't just rescue the girls, we also help them shape their future, so they don't have to prostitute themselves," she says.

Being a queen of one of the world's richest countries is no obstacle when relating to some of the least-privileged citizens of poor countries, she says.

"The children don't see me that way. They see me as a person who wants to help," she says.

The foundation has a tiny structure, employing just four to five staff each in Stockholm, New York and Brazil, but has started making a difference, Silvia says.

"There are many lights at the end of the tunnel. Many governments have changed laws to protect their children, like Japan and Australia, " she says.

But there are ever new dangers lurking, such as the Internet.

"The Internet is a wonderful thing, but it can also be a tool for the abuse of children. When your child is in front of the computer your child is in danger of being contacted by a paedophile," she says.

German-born Silvia, who became queen of Sweden when she married King Carl Gustaf in 1976, says the respectful attitude with which Swedes treat their children had reinforced her commitment.

"You treat children as a little human beings, with their own rights," she says.

(AFP)

http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=1622

[rchainho]

Interview: Sweden's Queen Silvia on crusade against child abuse Saturday, 18 June 2005


Sexual abuse and trafficking of children are overwhelming problems worldwide, says Sweden's Queen Silvia, whose World Childhood Foundation has been helping victims of sexual violence since 1999.

"Sexual abuse is a global problem, and it's increasing," Silvia told AFP in an interview before a Paris benefit concert for her foundation.

"It's a taboo subject. It's a delicate question. But if you don't talk about it, then the children will continue suffering," she said in her office in the royal palace in central Stockholm.

Silvia, who has long worked for charity, created the foundation after repeatedly meeting with abused children during her travels.

"There came a point when I asked myself: What can I do, personally, to help these children?" she says.

She started by becoming the patron in 1996, in Sweden, of the first World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, which she calls "a very important step", coming shortly after the Dutroux pedophile scandal that shook Belgium.

"One of the good things about being queen is that you have the possibility to help and perhaps even change things for the better," she says.

The second conference, in 2001, took place in Yokohama, giving "Japan a leading role".

The World Childhood Foundation, founded in 1999, is established in Sweden, Germany, Brazil and the US. It does not run programmes itself, but supports 76 projects in 15 countries.

"We are the facilitators and I'm the mother," smiles Silvia.

The funds come from the 14 co-founders including DaimlerChrysler and SAP, and including major Swedish partners like Volvo, ICA and Vattenfall, which can enter into partnerships with the foundation.

It also relies on events like the June 19 benefit concert in Paris with the Orchestre National de France which is conductor Kurt Masur's "gift to the foundation".

Among the projects supported by the foundation are an adolescent centre in Sao Paolo, a child support centre in Estonia, a child health centre in Cape Town and a support structure for 600 juvenile inmates in a Saint Petersburg prison.

In a "babushka brigade" project in Moscow, it has helped bring abused children, homeless mothers and lonely older women together in a day care centre where they help, and learn from, each other.

Young mothers who grew up in orphanages and suffered sexual abuse often find it difficult to give their own children the love they need. "They are quite tough, and often socially and emotionally handicapped," Silvia says. "We help them to be good mothers."

In a project in Brazil, a group of girls got help to open a shop selling candles, soap and small decorated handbags, including with the accounting.

"We don't just rescue the girls, we also help them shape their future, so they don't have to prostitute themselves," she says.

Being a queen of one of the world's richest countries is no obstacle when relating to some of the least-privileged citizens of poor countries, she says.

"The children don't see me that way. They see me as a person who wants to help," she says.

The foundation has a tiny structure, employing just four to five staff each in Stockholm, New York and Brazil, but has started making a difference, Silvia says.

"There are many lights at the end of the tunnel. Many governments have changed laws to protect their children, like Japan and Australia, " she says.

But there are ever new dangers lurking, such as the Internet.

"The Internet is a wonderful thing, but it can also be a tool for the abuse of children. When your child is in front of the computer your child is in danger of being contacted by a paedophile," she says.

German-born Silvia, who became queen of Sweden when she married King Carl Gustaf in 1976, says the respectful attitude with which Swedes treat their children had reinforced her commitment.

"You treat children as a little human beings, with their own rights," she says.

June 16 2005 Agence-France Presse

[Jackswife]

Not only a classy and elegant lady but also one who is committed to helping children. A very lovely person, both inside and outside.:)

[HMQueenElizabethII]

Photos of The King and The Queen attended benefit concert against child abuse at Theatre of champs Elysees,in Paris yesterday:

[ursulajohanna]

Thanks for posting the nice pics from Paris. The queen look lovely in her old dress.

[Lena]

Thank your for posting those pics, HMQueenElizabethII. Nice to see, that the king was with the queen. As much as I know it was not listed in the schedule, that he would be with her. Maybe they will go directly to St. Maxime for holiday (?)

[HMQueenElizabethII]

Originally Posted by ursulajohanna

Thanks for posting the nice pics from Paris. The queen look lovely in her old dress.

Your welcome,ursulajohanna.Was it really her old dress?I did not know that,i think she looks very lovely in that dress,i had thought that it was a new dress.

More clearier photo from ANP Photo:

[irishchick]

Nice to see the couple together on their anniversary, and in Paris the city of romance so nice.

[ursulajohanna]

The queen has wear the dress for example at June 1998 EU-meeting, Sept.1998 at Mentor-Gala, London, May 1999 birthday Mainau and Dec.1999 Nobel-Gala at castle. :)

Originally Posted by HMQueenElizabethII

Your welcome,ursulajohanna.Was it really her old dress?I did not know that,i think she looks very lovely in that dress,i had thought that it was a new dress.

[rosalyn]

Very commendable royal couple, not extravagant! Recyling clothes is very practical!

[GrandDuchess]

On Sunday 21 August, the Queen attended a regatta for the benefit of the World Childhood Foundation, hosted during the World Championships in Dragon Sailing in Germany. In attendance were also Princess Barbara zu Schleswig Holstein, Prinz Alexander zu Schleswig-Holstein, Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Peter Harry Carstensen, and the Queen's brother Jörg Sommerlath. The pictures are from Fotomarktplatz.

[GrandDuchess]

On Sunday 21 August, the Queen attended a regatta for the benefit of the World Childhood Foundation, hosted during the World Championships in Dragon Sailing in Germany. In attendance were also Princess Barbara zu Schleswig Holstein, Prinz Alexander zu Schleswig-Holstein, Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Peter Harry Carstensen, and the Queen's brother Jörg Sommerlath. These are also from Fotomarktplatz.

[robby86]

Thank you GD. The Queen looks stuning.

[Dennism]

Originally Posted by robby86

Thank you GD. The Queen looks stuning.

Stunning indeed. I like the photos from the WCF event. Lovely facial expressions there.

[ursulajohanna]

GrandDuchess,
thanks for all the lovely pictures. The queen looks very nice and ellegant.
Can you give me the address of the website from "face to face". Perhaps I can find pictures from another events. Thanks for help in advance.

[Gita]

Queen Silvia looked beautiful and her hair looked lovely like that.

[ursulajohanna]

The next two weeks the queen visit Brasil for her World Childhood Foundation.
I hope, we will see nice pictures from her visit (as November 2003).

[ursulajohanna]

This and next week the queen visit Brasil for her World Childhood Foundation. Unfortunately we haven't see pictures of this travel. At the year 2003 we have see many pictures of the visit of any projects, Gala and press-meeting.
Is by this trip the photograher Charles Hammersten travel along with the queen?