Maria Dufva: “Children and young people have a right to knowledge.”

She is the criminologist who refuses to shy away from the difficult and who repeatedly steps forward where others remain silent. Maria Dufva has made it her life’s work to give children and young people the knowledge that adults often fail to convey. Through her books, lectures and thousands of conversations, she shows that safety begins with words.

Is there anyone who has inspired you to want to make a difference for children?
What keeps me fighting to ensure that children and young people have the knowledge they need to safely navigate their digital childhood is every DM, text, or email I receive where a child shares how they’ve handled situations that could have led to a crime — how they found the courage to seek help, file a police report, make it through a legal process, and come out stronger with new experience.

What issues in the field (sexual exploitation of children) concern you most?
Public education is close to my heart and children and young people have a right to knowledge, which is why I write books on topics where other adults fall short and duck.

Working with vulnerable children can be mentally challenging. What are your top tips for re-energizing?
My family gives me strength, hope and courage. My dogs are extremely demanding, which means I get my daily dose of fresh light, fresh air and exercise. Having dreams and hopes for the future fills me with inspiration.