Sweden's Queen Silvia called for better protection of children during a visit to Berlin, where she attended an event of her World Childhood Foundation.
"For many decades, I have encountered children whose rights were violated, often in secret and often for too long," said Silvia, the German-born wife of King Carl Gustaf.
"These encounters have placed their stamp on my life," the queen said. "They have taught me that child protection is not a marginal issue, but a touchstone for the kind of society that we live in, and also for our legal structures."
The foundation's head in Germany, Astrid Helling-Bakki, estimates that nine out of 10 cases of child abuse go undetected. She highlighted physical harm, sexual violence and emotional abuse.
The event aims to improve child protection by reaching low-level structures, so that sports coaches and teachers know what to do when they notice something.
Silvia said the discussion focused on what works, what it costs and how to have maximum effect with limited resources.
"We owe children not only our sympathy but effective and responsible action," she said.
Silvia was born in Heidelberg, spent much of her childhood in São Paulo in Brazil, and went to school in Dusseldorf. She set up the World Childhood Foundation in 1999.
Also at the event was Elke Büdenbender, wife of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who said that child sex abuse is not a marginal issue. Children should not be allowed to feel insecure and unsafe in their own families, she said, while highlighting the danger from the internet and social media.
