Between October 2024 and October 2025, Family for Every Child members and partners mobilised globally to drive collective action through the Blue Umbrella Day Signature Campaign. Over the last year, we campaigned to gather global support for our petition to influence the UN to establish an international day of awareness of sexual abuse affecting boys on 16 April.
Led by 27 member organisations across 23 countries, and supported by more than 140 national and international organisations, the campaign reached communities through locally grounded activities and online promotion — from schools and public spaces to media and online platforms. More than 45,000 people were directly engaged, while millions more encountered campaign messages through digital and traditional media.
Over 50,000 signatures from 145 countries were collected online and offline. These signatures, together with a formal statement, were submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, Ms Mama Fatimah Singhateh, in October 2025, as part of the consultation process for her final report to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The submission represents a crucial step in ensuring that the protection of boys is reflected within international human rights frameworks, informed by the voices of survivors, communities, and practitioners working closest to the issue. You can find Family for Every Child’s submission at the UN Human Rights Council website, or download it directly here.
Next steps
While the signature campaign has now concluded, the work continues. This milestone is an important step — but it is only the beginning. Achieving an international day for the protection of boys will take sustained pressure, resources, and collective action. As the signature campaign concludes and we start planning the next phase, continued learning and collaboration remain essential. And we need your support.
The RISE Learning Network brings together practitioners committed to strengthening prevention and survivor-centred responses to sexual violence against children. Join RISE to connect with like-minded professionals, contribute to shared learning and help build a world where children can live safely from abuse.
Thank you for being part of this global movement!