Prince Harry Attends WHO Dinner with Queen Mathilde and Forest Whitaker to Honor Childhood Violence Survivors
Prince Harry attended a World Health Organization dinner in New York to honor survivors of childhood violence while his wife Meghan was absent due to illness. The event featured high-profile attendees including Queen Mathilde of Belgium and actor Forest Whitaker, emphasizing the urgent need to address various forms of violence against children globally.
Over the weekend, Prince Harry participated in a dinner hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in New York, where he was joined by several notable figures, but his wife Meghan Markle was absent. The event aimed to honor survivors of childhood violence and took place in conjunction with the UN General Assembly, highlighting the ongoing global issue of child abuse.
Prince Harry Joins Dignitaries to Address Childhood Violence
The dinner featured prominent attendees, including Queen Mathilde of Belgium, actor Forest Whitaker, and various heads of UN agencies. The gathering aimed to bring attention to childhood violence, with discussions surrounding the staggering statistic that one billion children across the globe experience such trauma. Will Poulter, the event's master of ceremonies, emphasized the deep and lasting impact of both physical and psychological violence, urging collective action to protect vulnerable children worldwide.
Call to Action: Open Letter for Urgent Measures
High-profile figures at the event, including Whitaker and Shudu Musida, contributed to an open letter released last week, calling on world leaders to take immediate action to combat violence against children. This event precedes the first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children scheduled for November in Colombia. Signatories of the letter included Prince Harry and Queen Mathilde, who advocated for increased efforts to protect children from corporal punishment, domestic abuse, online violence, and other forms of violence such as child marriage and labor.
Meghan’s Absence Amid Advocacy for Online Bullying Prevention
While Prince Harry engaged with dignitaries at the event, Meghan Markle was notably absent, having recently championed causes against online bullying. Reports indicate that she was unable to attend due to illness after missing a charity concert hosted by Kevin Costner, held at his estate in Santa Barbara. Meghan has openly discussed her struggles with mental health and abuse during her royal duties, expressing her hope that sharing her story may offer support for those facing similar challenges.
