Shaping a Future with Children at the Centre

How the UN's "Summit of the Future" Unlocks Opportunities for Child Helplines

The Summit of the Future reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to securing a more equitable and sustainable future, with an emphasis on inclusion, safety and opportunity for all children. This vision is one that aligns closely with the core mission of Child Helpline International and our child helpline members to provide timely, accessible and responsive support for children and young people in need. At the intersection of the Summit’s recommendations and child protection services lies an opportunity for child helplines to further evolve as a critical resource for safeguarding children’s rights and ensuring their voices are heard and acted upon.

As highlighted by the Summit’s concluding report, the global landscape in which children live and grow is rapidly evolving. With technological advancements, increased digital access and unprecedented challenges such as climate change, displacement and inequality, children’s needs are becoming more complex. Mental health concerns, online safety and access to education are no longer isolated issues but deeply intertwined challenges that require coordinated and comprehensive responses.

For child helplines, these shifts present both challenges and opportunities. Children today require not only immediate crisis support but also proactive guidance on navigating new realities, such as digital safety and the psychological impacts of climate-related disasters. As first responders in many situations, child helplines must be agile and forward-looking, adapting their services to meet the changing needs of the youngest members of society.

The Summit’s focus on leveraging digital technologies to foster inclusion and access opens up new avenues for child helplines to expand their services. In many regions, child helplines have already begun incorporating digital platforms — such as chat services and social media outreach — into their work. The recommendations in the Summit’s report encourage scaling up these efforts, ensuring that more children, especially those in vulnerable or marginalized communities, can access support when and how they need it. And by integrating data-driven approaches, child helplines can further enhance their responsiveness. Analysing trends and patterns in the issues children are reporting can help child helplines anticipate emerging concerns, better allocate resources and tailor interventions to specific contexts. Furthermore, predictive analytics could enable child helplines to identify at-risk groups earlier and provide targeted interventions that prevent harm before it occurs.

The Summit called for stronger global solidarity and cooperation across sectors, including child protection, education, mental health services, and justice systems. This emphasis on interconnected action resonates strongly with the work of child helplines, which often operate at the crossroads of multiple support systems.

Through collaboration with schools, healthcare providers and social services, child helplines can create more robust safety nets for children and young people. By sharing data, expertise and resources with other stakeholders, child helplines can help ensure that no child falls through the cracks. This collaborative approach also enhances advocacy efforts at the local, national and international levels, aligning with the Summit’s broader agenda of building inclusive, resilient societies.

One of the most compelling elements of the Summit’s concluding report is its call for youth engagement in decision-making processes. The report makes clear that young people must be active participants in shaping the policies that affect their lives. Child helplines are uniquely positioned to facilitate this participation by empowering children and young people to raise their voices, report their concerns, and share their perspectives. Beyond providing reactive support, child helplines can serve as platforms for youth advocacy, enabling young people to contribute to the policy discussions and decisions that will shape their futures. By connecting children to broader advocacy networks and encouraging their involvement in national and international forums, child helplines can help to amplify the voices of those who are too often unheard.

As we look to the future, the role of child helplines will be more crucial than ever. The challenges facing children in the coming decades — climate crises, social inequalities, digital risks — require responsive, agile and innovative services. By embracing the opportunities highlighted in the “Summit of the Future”, child helplines can not only continue to provide essential support to children in crisis but also evolve as proactive leaders in the global movement to secure a better future for all children.

At Child Helpline International, we are committed to supporting the transformation of child helplines into future-ready services that meet the complex needs of children and youth worldwide. Together, we can build a world where every child feels safe, heard and empowered to shape their own future.

The “Summit of the Future” challenges us to rethink how we protect and empower the next generation. Child helplines are key players in this vision, offering not only immediate support but also a critical platform for youth participation and advocacy. By embracing innovation, fostering collaboration, and amplifying children’s voices, child helplines can lead the way toward a more just, inclusive, and resilient future for all children.

Let’s ensure that every child has the chance to thrive, no matter what the future holds.