Today, together with the Rainbow Fund, Childhood wants to shine a light on the invisible children. Those children who do not fit in, who are left in silence, loneliness and exclusion. Those children for whom the lack of understanding from the rest of the world contributes towards vulnerability, stigma and shame.

HM The Queen

Jonas Gardell, co-founder of the Rainbow Fund, then spoke about the invisible children, what we know about sexual attacks against boys and LGBTQ children, and how stereotypes about perpetrators and victims affect the children who are subjected to attacks.

During the remainder of the meeting, the participants discussed topics including:

• the blind spots and responsibilities of the world of children's rights – how depictions of gender and sexual orientation make certain groups invisible.
• the LGBTQ world's blind spots and the responsibility/right to investigate one's sexuality and identity without the risk of attack.
• shame, guilt, religion and the role of churches in inclusion.

Following the discussions, Minister Märta Stenevi shares her reflections from the day with Jêran Rostam from the Swedish Youth Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights.

Jonas Gardell concluded the meeting by saying:

It is so clear how boys and LGBTQ children who have been subjected to sexual attacks have had nowhere to see themselves reflected, no narratives in which they can recognise themselves and no adult world that has been able to accept them, and how this in turn has led to even greater loneliness, shame and invisibility. I hope that this fantastic day will help us in the adult world to be more present for all these children.

Jonas Gardell