The UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Dr Najat Maalla M’jid, issued a video statement on 16 April - Blue Umbrella Day - recognising sexual violence against boys as a global issue and acknowledging Family for Every Child's work in bringing it to global attention. In her message, she highlights how stigma, harmful norms, and gaps in policies and services continue to leave boys invisible, and reinforces the urgency of investing in inclusive and gender-sensitive responses.
Watch the video
The statement marks a significant moment in the global recognition of sexual violence against boys: for the first time, a senior UN mandate holder has publicly recognised it as a global issue and strengthened the global call to ensure boys are recognised as victims, supported in their recovery, and included in policies and services. This achievement reflects years of sustained advocacy by Family for Every Child and our global network of partners through the Blue Umbrella Day Campaign.
The Blue Umbrella campaign is evolving in 2026
Blue Umbrella Day on 16 April is the international day dedicated to protecting boys from sexual violence. After years of building a global movement, reaching over a million people worldwide, and achieving UN recognition of the issue, we now seek to connect prevention and response to sexual violence against boys with family and community strengthening, and to place survivor leadership at the centre to advocate for system change.
One in six boys globally experience sexual violence, yet stigma, harmful gender norms and persistent systemic gaps keep their suffering invisible. Without stronger support for boys, families and communities, boys are left without the help they need to recover. We need to break the silence, listen to survivors, strengthen families and communities so they can support boys to heal, and make systems more inclusive and effective in protecting all children.
Join the movement! Learn more at https://blueumbrelladay.org/ and download the campaign participation pack!