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Fourth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen: A Global Dialogue on Protecting Childhood in the Digital Age
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The Fourth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, initiated by Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine, was held in Kyiv. This year’s theme was “Protecting Children: Ensuring a Safe Future.”
"The safety of children can only be provided by all conscious, responsible adults in the world. Moreover, we, as adults, owe them safety. Because they have entered our world, and if something threatens them, it is our collective responsibility to stop that threat," said Olena Zelenska, underlining the global responsibility of safeguarding children.
Education Initiatives and Digital Safety in Ukraine
Mykhailo Fedorov participated in the Summit, where he presented one of the key strategic solutions that will help Ukrainians develop as a nation—the educational platform "Mriia". With "Mriia," pupils will follow individualised educational paths, develop goal-setting and leadership qualities. Parents will be able to see what their children enjoy and help them grow in those areas.
"Our mission is to build an educational system capable of shaping professional and happy individuals for a new innovative economy. Citizens who are capable of protecting themselves and their homes from any threats. One of the strategic solutions that will help Ukrainians develop as a nation is 'Mriya.' It will assist students, teachers, school administrations, and parents in ensuring a high-quality, transparent learning process. The app is already being tested in 40 schools, and eventually, every interested school will be able to connect to 'Mriia,'" said Mykhailo Fedorov, Vice Prime Minister for Innovation, Development of Education, Science, and Technology, and Minister of Digital Transformation.
Valeria Ionan, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration, spoke during a panel about "Diia" and "Diia.Education", highlighting the educational tools the Ministry of Digital Transformation is implementing to protect children from online threats.
"We continue to work so that every child has basic digital skills and cybersecurity knowledge. We are developing educational series, simulators, and tests to enhance cyber hygiene on the Diia.Education portal. The platform also offers a feature to report unwanted content online, enabling citizens to confidentially and safely report child sexual abuse materials in the digital space," Ionan stated.
Global Focus on Child Safety
The Summit featured discussions on child safety in five different panels.
Ylva Johansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, emphasized the European Union’s commitment to protecting children from sexual abuse:
"Our children are our future, and protecting children from child sexual abuse is a priority for the European Union. In the middle of a war for survival as a nation, Ukraine is dedicating time, resources, and effort to protect children from this crime, one of the worst crimes you can possibly imagine. I applaud Ukraine’s dedication to protect their children and safeguard their future."
The first panel, titled “Children’s Safety During War”, focused on the global tragedies of war and how to mitigate risks for children. Discussions covered not only the physical dangers of war but also propaganda, deportation, and indoctrination.
Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, highlighted the challenges created by war, especially in the digital realm:
"The full-scale war has brought many challenges, and the digital space is no exception. Unfortunately, the safety of Ukrainian children in cyberspace now requires special attention, so we are doing everything possible to protect them from potential threats."
The second panel, “Children’s Safety in the Family,” addressed parenting challenges and children's mental health at home. Panellists discussed national support programs for families.
Bo Tengberg, First Gentleman of Denmark, asked:
"Our children are the future. They are precious to us, but do we show the necessary responsibility for their well-being? Do we do what we can to protect and prepare them for the future?"
The third panel, “Children’s Safety in Schools,” focused on creating safe and healthy educational environments. The discussion emphasised ensuring that schools are secure and provide comfortable conditions for children.
The fourth panel, moderated by Luukas Ilves, Former Government Chief Information Officer of Estonia, “Children’s Safety in Cyberspace,” tackled issues related to children’s online safety and the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence for children.
"We live in an age of technological shifts that create massive opportunities but also massive challenges—war, climate change, pandemics. The digital age brings its own challenges: information overload, cyberattacks, crime, and more. But children embody the potential for good in this world. One day, their creativity will turn these challenges into solutions that make the world a better place," said Mr. Ilves.
The fifth panel, “Safe Environment for Children,” was held in the format of five pavilions featuring installations, where guests explored Ukrainian nature reserves affected by the war, from Crimea to Luhansk.
Iain Drennan, Executive Director of the WeProtect Global Alliance, spoke about the importance of the Summit:
"The Summit in Ukraine is an important opportunity to come together to support and promote children’s safety in the digital space. Today, we live in a world where there is no longer a clear line between the real and the virtual, so it is critical that children’s rights and safety are prioritised in this context."
Survey on Childhood Protection
During the Summit, the results of a special survey titled "Protecting Childhood: Dimensions of Safety for the Younger Generation" were presented. Conducted across 15 countries, the survey sought to identify the problems faced by both parents and children. The results showed that 75% of parents believe children today face more threats than previous generations, including rising prices, poverty, and unemployment.
Annette Kroeber-Riel, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google in Europe, announced a major initiative to support Ukrainian students in exploring AI:
"We support young people in Ukraine to explore how AI will impact their lives and how they can benefit. Together with local and global partners, we want to inspire this next generation of AI innovators. That's why we are delighted to announce that Google.org is providing USD 10 million to the Raspberry Pi Foundation. With the additional funding, they will be able to give more young people in Ukraine access to Experience AI, an educational program that helps them explore, understand, and create with AI."
Joint Declaration and Future Projects
The Summit concluded with the signing of a joint Declaration, aiming to unite global leaders in protecting the rights of children during armed conflicts and wars. Future initiatives will focus on locating and returning deported children, assisting internally displaced families, and evacuating children from conflict zones.
Thomas Davin, UNICEF's Global Innovation Director, emphasised the need for collaborative efforts:
"As countries become more connected and technology continues to evolve, the need to protect children online will also continue to grow. To address this growing challenge, the need for innovative solutions and collaborative approaches is stronger than ever. We must come together to ensure that legislation and services for child protection keep pace with the fast-growing digital world, and work collectively to create a fair and safe future for every child."
Meta, a key partner of the Summit, reaffirmed its commitment to protecting young users. Kateryna Kruk, Regional Public Policy Lead for Central and Eastern Europe at Meta, stated:
"Protecting all users, and particularly young people, is of paramount importance to Meta. Meta has designed its services to be safe for all users, regardless of age, by integrating a comprehensive suite of safeguards and controls. Meta has implemented further measures for young people to ensure a balance between their protection and their connection in the digital environment."
The Summit was supported by key partners such as UNICEF, USAID, Universal Bank, UNESCO, and other international organisations, uniting global leaders to prioritise child safety in a fast-evolving digital world.
The Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen is an international annual event initiated by Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska in 2021. It is the meeting that brings together first ladies and gentlemen to address global challenges.
The Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform is a community that brings together First Ladies and Gentlemen who seek to use their influence to overcome global challenges.
More info about the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen – https://summitflg.org/en/