From Washington, a message for children: From words to action
30 October 2026
Washington, D.C., October 29, 2026
From Washington, a message for children: From words to action
“The Smile of the Child” at the 1st Global Policy Roundtable
for Online Child Sexual Exploitation,
hosted by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
27-29 October 2026 | Washington, D.C., USA
30+1 Years: From Andreas’s Diary to Washington, D.C., and from Washington, D.C. to the Athens Conservatory on November 4, 2026
Representatives of child protection organizations, scientists, academics, technology experts, and policymakers from various countries* came together in Washington, D.C., with the common goal of more effectively protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse, particularly in the digital environment.
“The Smile of the Child” actively participated in the 1st Global Policy Roundtable for Online Child Sexual Exploitation, organized by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), sharing its experience of more than three decades of daily intervention in Greece.
The need for action is urgent.
According to data published by NCMEC for the years 2025 and 2024, 16,000 and 15,000 reports, respectively, submitted to the CyberTipline regarding the distribution of visual or digital material depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of children were forwarded to the relevant Greek authorities for investigation (more at https://globalchildexploitationpolicy.org/data-insights/greece).
Behind every report lies the need to identify a risk in a timely manner, to listen to a child, and to mobilize the relevant authorities.
From Identification to Daily Protection
In Greece, “The Smile of the Child” has developed a nationwide system of free services, operating 24 hours a day, with 10 Action Centers, 6 Helplines Hotlines—including the National Helpline for Children SOS1056 and Chat 1056—as well as specialized professionals and services for immediate intervention, prevention, and support.
Years of experience have shown that child protection goes beyond simply documenting an incident. It requires immediacy, professionalism, trust, cooperation, continuity of care, and people who take responsibility.
The Organization’s President, Costas Yannopoulos, is sending a clear message from Washington, D.C.:
“We have the data. We know the risks. We have the experience. What we need now is the courage to work together and turn our commitments into action.
It’s not enough to just talk about the threats facing children. We must agree on what we will do together, who will take responsibility, and when we will implement it.
The protection of children cannot be limited by borders, institutional jurisdictions, or competition among organizations. It requires cooperation, trust, and genuine care.
Our participation in the 1st Global Policy for Online Child Sexual Exploitation does not end with the conclusion of its proceedings, but serves as a springboard for new, measurable international collaborations, with one and only one ultimate beneficiary: children.
Thirty-one years ago, my ten-year-old son, Andreas, wrote in his diary: “So let’s come together and help; if we all unite, we’ll succeed.”
This call continues to guide us. And today, from Washington, D.C., we address it once again to the international community.”
The Organization’s participation in the Roundtable took place just a few days before November 4, 2026, when “The Smile of the Child” will hold an event in Athens to mark the 30+1st anniversary of its nationwide work.
The event will focus on three critical themes: Artificial Intelligence, Family, and Violence. The findings of a nationwide survey conducted by Focus Bari will be presented, serving as the basis for a substantive dialogue involving scientists, representatives of “The Smile of the Child,” and the children themselves, with the aim of highlighting the challenges and seeking solutions that meet their real needs.
*The following organizations (in alphabetical order) participated in the 1st Global Policy Roundtable for Online Child Sexual Exploitation, organized by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC):
- Authority for the Prevention of Terrorist Content and Child Sexual Abuse Material in the Netherlands, Netherlands
- British Embassy Washington, U.S.A.
- Child Online Africa, Ghana
- Childlight - Global Child Safety Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK
- Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland
- The Smile of the Child, Greece
- Child Safety & Technology Governance. U.S.A.
- Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, U.S.A.
- ECPAT International, Thailand
- European Parliament, Belgium
- Federal Trade Commission, U.S.A.
- Fondazione SOS il Telefono Azzurro ETS, Italy
- Fundación PAS, Mexico
- Fundación Red por la Infancia, Argentina
- Grooming Argentina
- GetReal Security, U.S.A.
- INHOPE, Netherlands
- International Justice Mission, Philippines
- International Justice Mission, U.S.A.
- Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), UK
- Irish Internet Hotline, Ireland
- K&L Gates, U.S.A.
- Korea Communications Standards Commission, Republic of Korea
- Ministry of the Interior , Germany
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, U.S.A.
- Oak Foundation, U.S.A.
- Ofcom, U.K.
- Οffice of Senator Hontiveros, Philippines
- Offlimits, Netherlands
- Online Safety Commission, Fiji
- Protect Children, Finland
- Safe Online. U.S.A.
- Safernet Brazil
- Senate of the Philippines, Philippines
- TechSociety Engineering, Ecuador
- Techsocietal, Nigeria
- Terre des Hommes, Netherlands
- The Catholic University of America, U.S.A.
- Thorn, U.S.A.
- Together for Girls/ Brave Movement, U.S.A.
- U.S. Department of Justice, U.S.A.
- U.S. Department of State, U.S.A.
- United Nations Human Rights Council, Switzerland
