Nine first ladies and gentlemen who visited Summit 2024 in Kyiv gave interviews for ELLE Ukraine
ELLE Ukraine interviewed nine first ladies and gentlemen from different countries who visited the Fourth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen (SFLG), which took place on 12 September 2024 in Kyiv. The event within the SFLG Global Platform was initiated by Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska and focused on protecting children and ensuring their safe environment, particularly with the help of soft power.
But what exactly is ‘soft power’? As defined by the author of the term, Joseph Nye, ‘soft power’ is the ability to achieve results through collaboration, voluntary engagement, and mutual respect among participants. Unlike hard power, which often involves force or monetary incentives – strategies frequently used by Russia to coerce its so-called allies – soft power is going beyond traditional culture and diplomacy.
A vivid example of soft power development is the holding of the first ladies and gentlemen summits within the SPLG Global Platform. At the Summit 2023, an international medical partnership initiative was launched, while this year’s summit featured the presentation of a joint declaration of the participants on key child safety priorities. This expert document is based on the Ukrainian practical experience of saving children from the Russian invasion. It outlines core principles for safeguarding children’s rights in conflict zones, including the threats they face and the challenges the international community must address. This expert document highlights actionable steps and recommendations to enhance child protection mechanisms during crises.
It is also worth mentioning the soft power index presented in the research conducted by Brand Finance. This study shows the components of soft power, the ranking of the most influential states, and the factors of first ladies and gentlemen impact on countries’ image.
First Lady of the Republic of Guatemala, Dr Lucrecia Eugenia Peinado Villanueva; First Lady of Estonia Sirje Karis; Spouse of the Prime Minister of Denmark Bo Tengberg; First Lady of the Republic of Lithuania Diana Nausėdienė; Spouse of the President of the Republic of Serbia Tamara Vučić; Spouse of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Aleš Musar; Spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland Suzanne Innes-Stubb; and Spouse of the Prime Minister of Belize Rossana Briceño gave their interviews for ELLE Ukraine.
According to the First Lady of Estonia Sirje Karis, mental health for children and youth is one of society’s greatest challenges, as they are among the most vulnerable groups nowadays. Therefore, adults should make every effort to create such conditions for children so that they can grow and learn in a safe environment. Protecting children is a shared responsibility that transcends borders.
‘We witness war crimes almost daily as Russian forces bomb schools, playgrounds, and hospitals. We cannot stop until the children taken by occupiers are returned to their families. Children are the heart of every nation, and when we protect them together, we not only develop their potential but also support a more compassionate world. Estonia will keep the topic of Ukraine’s war-affected children, especially those forcibly deported, on the global agenda,’ – said Mrs Karis.
Furthermore, the Spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, highlighted the importance of ensuring safe learning environments as an investment in a more peaceful and stable world in the future. She also noted that nearly 9,000 Ukrainian children currently receive free preschool and primary education in Finland.
In her turn, the First Lady of the Republic of Lithuania, Diana Nausėdienė, emphasized that social science studies describe the areas of responsibility of first ladies and gentlemen not only as wide-ranging but also as those covering specific areas of soft power influence, such as business and trade, public administration, international relations, culture and heritage, media and communications, education and science, people and values, and a sustainable future.
‘I sincerely believe that soft power, solidarity, and humanism will become stronger as a powerful antidote to the cruel war machine, paving the way for effective solutions that will ensure a sustainable future for our common world,’ – said the First Lady of the Republic of Lithuania.
Continuing the theme of soft power, the First Lady of the Republic of Guatemala, Dr Lucrecia Eugenia Peinado Villanueva, emphasized that the joint efforts of first ladies and gentlemen can have a powerful impact on key topics and position them at different levels, being a tool for leadership without official authority. According to Mrs Peinado Villanueva, raising awareness, building public opinion, and communicating key messages are effective ways of using such soft power to benefit all, particularly vulnerable groups.
‘History knows many examples of how first ladies and gentlemen have effectively used soft diplomacy to empower communities and promote local, national, or global initiatives. Communities and individuals must act in a way that respects the inherent dignity of children and adolescents, as well as preserves, respects and promotes their human rights. Safeguarding the emotional and physical integrity of children and youth in both private and public spheres is crucial,’ – noted the First Lady of the Republic of Guatemala.
Read the full interview on the ELLE Ukraine website here.
Related articles
-
- Summit
- 20.09.2024
Aleš Musar, spouse of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, participated in the Fourth Summit of First Ladies ...
-
- Summit
- 18.09.2024
The panel dedicated to kids’ security in cyberspace was a part of The Fourth Summit of First Ladies and Gentl...
-
- 20.10.2024
This marks a very special case in the history of not only Ukrainian but also global ELLE editions: the first ladies...
-
- 10.10.2024
On 9 October, the First Ladies visited Czesław Miłosz Basic School in Pakenė and St. Ursula Ledóchowska Gymnasium i...
-
- Summit
- 27.09.2024
American political scientist, philosopher, and Stanford University professor Dr Francis Fukuyama was an honoured sp...
-
- Summit
- 25.09.2024
On September 23, on the margins of the Summit of the Future, a high-level interregional event, ‘Securing the future...