The AXA Foundation for Human Progress has launched a €10 million programme to tackle violence against children, positioning the insurer’s philanthropic arm at the intersection of social resilience and risk management.
According to the World Health Organisation, one in two children worldwide is subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence every year. AXA said addressing this issue is not only a moral duty but also critical to strengthening the resilience of societies.
The initiative, Fighting Violence Against Children, will run from 2025 to 2028 and fund projects in France, Spain, and Colombia. It aims to prevent violence through awareness campaigns, improve early detection and support systems for victims, and advocate for stronger public policies.
By targeting systemic gaps in child protection, AXA said it is framing the programme as a way to mitigate long-term social risks that can perpetuate poverty and instability.
Clément Rouxel, general delegate of the AXA Foundation, said the programme reinforces the group's conviction that child protection underpins resilient societies. He noted that insurers are uniquely positioned to view such issues through the lens of risk prevention, drawing parallels with how the sector supports clients in building resilience to climate, health, and financial shocks.
The foundation also said the programme will take an interdisciplinary approach, combining educational, technological, and community-based solutions. It aims to ensure inclusivity by supporting children regardless of background or circumstances. While the first phase will focus on three countries, AXA said the long-term ambition is to share best practices globally and foster international collaboration on child protection.
The initiative underscores a growing trend of insurance groups leveraging their foundations to address social issues alongside traditional risk protection. Insurers have increasingly recognised the societal dimension of resilience, extending their role beyond financial coverage to preventative and advocacy work. Social instability, loss of trust, and generational harm all have indirect economic consequences that can translate into claims exposure and long-term market uncertainty.
For AXA, the programme adds to its broader corporate responsibility strategy, positioning the insurer not only as a financial risk manager but also as a contributor to social progress. With its interdisciplinary and international approach, the foundation aims to build scalable solutions that could inform wider risk frameworks.
