Paris Peace Forum 2026 | 10-11 Nov.
Paris, 10 November 2026 – More than 50 countries, 6 international organizations, and 20 non-governmental organizations, philanthropies and businesses will pledge to put children’s rights and wellbeing at the heart of their policies, programs and actions during a high-level session today at the Paris Peace Forum’s annual meeting.
The signatories of the Children First Declaration agree to expand their efforts across five pillars (health, nutrition, education, protection, and psychosocial wellbeing in the digital age) to reach tangible results by 2045.
“Childhood is the starting point for any political initiative. It is through childhood that peace and hope for tomorrow are built; and it is childhood that stands on the front lines of crises, natural disasters, epidemics and climate change. That is why children are at the heart of this edition of the Paris Peace Forum. Together, governments, international and philanthropic organizations, scientists, and businesses are making concrete commitments to better protect children, ensure their education, nutrition and health, and in doing so, build a better future for our societies. Online as well, protecting our children has become a major public health imperative, established and documented by scientists around the world. This applies to social media as well as to artificial intelligence. Today, together with tech companies and AI research laboratories, our commitment is clear: no AI should be placed in the hands of children without first being tested, evaluated, and therefore authorized. This is a major step forward”, said Emmanuel Macron, the President of the Republic of France.
From the most basic needs, like protecting children from preventable diseases and ensuring they have nutritious food, to the opportunities and risks of digital tools and artificial intelligence, the Declaration sets out the priorities that will shape a safe and fair future for today's children and the next generation. It will be announced at the Child Summit, that aims to set a precedent for children just like the 1992 Earth Summit did for climate.
“Today’s summit reminds us that investing in children is both a moral obligation and a powerful choice for the future. This important declaration aligns well with UNICEF’s core priorities for protecting children. We are thrilled to see so many leaders reaffirm this commitment”, said Catherine Russell, the UNICEF Executive Director.
The Summit will also see key AI developers, like OpenAI and Anthropic, and leading organizations on AI safety, like Common Sense Media, commit to funding research and tools on the interaction between AI and child development. Altogether, a pledge of 8 million euros will be made. Building on the efforts of the French presidency of the G7[1] and backed by the Paris Peace Forum, these initiatives will deepen shared understanding of AI’s impact on children, paving the way for new standards that will make technology safe by design. This announcement follows the launch by President Macron of the roadmap of the Coalition for Children's Rights and Protection in the Age of AI, at the United Nations last September.
“Today’s outcome represents a landmark step towards an AI that’s safe by design for children. The aim is to protect children from the risks of technologies such as AI by equipping researchers with the right resources to understand the impact these technologies have on children’s development, and inform science-based policy work”, said Philippe Etienne, the President of the Paris Peace Forum.
In addition to the Declaration, the Child Summit, which spans several sessions on November 10 and 11, will also kick-off two initiatives to help stakeholders advance their shared goals: a toolbox that includes indicators and best practices (the Child Priority Framework) and a platform that will bring together the private and public sectors (the Action Hub for Children).
Together, these initiatives aim to encourage a range of actors, from local and national authorities to international organizations and the private sector, to coordinate actions, backed by technology, to invest in children’s rights and wellbeing and keep them safe.
Note to editors:
Full list of signatories of the Declaration as of November 10:
More on the launch of the roadmap of the Coalition for Children's Rights and Protection in the Age of AI: https://www.elysee.fr/en/emmanuel-macron/2026/09/22/launch-of-the-roadmap-of-the-coalition-for-childrens-rights-and-protection-in-the-age-of-ai
Charter of Engagement for Safer AI for Children: https://parispeaceforum.org/app/uploads/2026/11/charter-of-engagement-for-safer-ai-for-children.pdf
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[1] The Evian Call for a safer digital space for minors has been endorsed by 24 countries: G7, G7 partner
countries, Australia, Bulgaria, Spain, Slovenia, Malta, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary,
Cyprus, Croatia.
