During the Summit of the Future and the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, a high-level side event of the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform took place

On September 23, on the margins of the Summit of the Future, a high-level interregional event, ‘Securing the future for children: addressing new challenges for soft power’, was held to address one of the most pressing global issues – ensuring a safe future for children.

The event was a continuation of this year’s Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, which scaled international dialogue and united world leaders to solve new challenges related to the safety and well-being of children.

The discussions were aligned with the broader goals of the Pact of the Future, with a particular focus on restoring children’s rights and addressing the multifaceted threats they face today – both in times of peace and war.

The Co-hosts of the event were Ukraine, Estonia, Belize, Guatemala, Lithuania, Malawi, Suriname, Finland, Great Britain, Canada, and UNICEF.

The First Ladies of Ukraine and Estonia, along with Belize, Guatemala, the European Union, Lithuania, Malawi, Suriname, the United States, and Finland, shared their vision for child safety.

High-ranking representatives from Canada, the United Kingdom, UNICEF, and leading global organisations addressing issues of education, health, and children’s rights spoke at the event.

Among the participants were:

• Mrs. Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine;
• Mrs. Sirje Karis, First Lady of Estonia;
• Mrs. Rossana Briceño, First Lady of Belize;
• Mrs. Suzanne Elizabeth Innes-Stubb, First Lady of Finland;
• Mrs. Lucrecia Peinado, First Lady of Guatemala;
• Mrs. Diana Nausėdienė, First Lady of Lithuania;
• Mrs. Monica Chakwera, First Lady of the Republic of Malawi;
• Mrs. Mellisa Santokhi-Seenacherry, First Lady of Suriname;
• Mrs. Amélie Derbaudrenghien, spouse of the European Council President;
• Mrs. Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States; 
• Mrs. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada;
• Mrs. Kitty van der Heijden, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF;
• Mrs.Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait;
• Mrs. Maggie L Johnson, VP and Global Head of Google.org.

Key focuses included:

• Children’s Rights: The event underscored the critical need to restore and safeguard children’s rights at both national and international levels.
• Global Partnerships: It emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnerships between nations in addressing the challenges that threaten the safety and future of the younger generation.
• Research and Insights: Conclusions from the International Sociological Research, ‘Protection of Childhood: Security Dimensions for Children and Adolescents’, were presented, outlining key threats to children’s well-being globally.
• Personal Stories: A series of personal stories and videos showcasing the challenges children face around the world, including domestic violence, bullying, and the impacts of war, were featured to highlight the importance of resilience and community support.

The main focus was on children’s rights. The event emphasized the urgent need to restore and safeguard children’s rights at both national and international levels. This was highlighted by the First Lady of Ukraine during her opening remarks.

‘Unpunished crimes against children in one region undermine the global system of child rights. Each unpunished crime causes a chain reaction. Today, there is no country in the world where children feel fully protected. I Call on Every Adult in the World to Take Action to Save Children,’ – said Olena Zelenska.

This comprehensive dialogue on ensuring a safe future for children was an important step and continuation for world leaders who shared experiences, presented research findings, and highlighted strategies for restoring and safeguarding children’s rights globally.

‘Defending our children today allows us to fight for our future. A future where they learn to play and explore without fear, no matter where they live,’ – stressed the First Lady of the US, Dr Jill Biden.

The First Lady of Suriname, Melissa Santokhi-Seenacerry, continued this theme: ‘Our younger generation faces many complexities, especially in today’s digital age, where the dynamic of family life has changed and continues to change. We must recognise that challenges differ per generation,‘ – said she.

During the dialogue between the First Ladies and participants, the importance of collaboration and partnerships between states in overcoming the challenges that threaten the safety and future of the younger generation was also emphasized.

‘All children and young people should have access to safe, inclusive, equitable and high-quality education opportunities. Children are the future, and today, we must not lose sight of the future. We need to be more determined than ever to protect children’s rights’, – said the First Lady of Finland, Suzanne Elizabeth Innes-Stubb.

The event stressed the importance of creating a safe environment for children’s learning.

‘A brain that is anxious and stressed, is not capable of learning new things. Mental health issues among young people are on the rise universally. We have to react. One way to do it is to give our children a safe learning environment because this is a key to achieving a brighter future,’ – highlighted the First Lady of Estonia, Sirje Karis, in her speech.

The stories of Ukrainian children Vyacheslav Yalov and Adile Dzhelyal were presented during the event, who shared their personal experiences at the Fourth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, along with a speech by a child speaker from Belize, Alaine Perdomo, and a child speaker from Senegal, Maquette Ba.

These stories, which illustrate the harsh realities faced by children around the world, highlighted the importance of resilience and the need for comprehensive global actions and cooperation to address the complex threats facing the world’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens.

During her speech, the First Lady of Ukraine, Mrs. Olena Zelenska, presented the results of the international sociological research ‘Protection of Childhood: Security Dimensions for Children and Adolescents’, which was conducted specifically for the Fourth Summit by Catalyze Research on behalf of BRAND UKRAINE. This comprehensive research highlighted key global threats to children’s well-being, ranging from domestic violence, bullying, and the impacts of war to issues related to digital spaces and environmental crises.

The research’s results emphasized the importance of restoring and safeguarding children’s rights at national and international levels. The presentation focused on how various factors – military operations, economic hardships, and family dynamics – continue to undermine children’s safety and future. Mrs. Zelenska highlighted the need for joint global efforts to address these issues, calling for enhanced collaboration and innovative approaches to ensure a safer world for the next generation.

During her speech, the First Lady of Ukraine also presented an expert document titled ‘Ensuring the Safety of Children in Wartime: Ukraine’s Experience,’ developed by Ukrainian specialists in collaboration with government authorities in fulfilment of the joint declaration of the Fourth Summit. The document outlines the fundamental principles and issues related to protecting children’s rights in armed conflict situations, including the threats children face and the challenges confronting the international community. It also presents opportunities for effective action and recommendations for improving mechanisms for protecting children in such crises.

This interregional event and dialogue on securing a brighter future for children was an important step and continuation of global leaders’ efforts to share experiences, present research, and highlight strategies to restore and protect children’s rights around the world.

The Summit of the Future is a high-level event bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on delivering a better present and safeguarding the future.

The Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform – is an international initiative that brings together First Ladies and Gentlemen to address global challenges, initiated by the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska. The SFLG Global Platform addresses issues that require multilateral cooperation and a high level of collaboration between participants worldwide to make the world a better place.