First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska took part in the National Forum "Family for Every Child" online, which was held on the occasion of the International Children's Day. Foster families and family-type children's homes from all over Ukraine, representatives of the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, the Ministry of Social Policy, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Science, and UNICEF joined the event via video link.
At the beginning of the speech, the President's wife mentioned the nighttime Russian shelling of Kyiv, which killed and injured people.
"Today is the first day of summer, which children and parents always look forward to. The day of protection of childhood and children. But today, as a result of another Russian attack on Kyiv, a nine-year-old girl and her mother were killed. Thus, another day has turned into a tragedy thanks to Russia's efforts. A child's crying in the middle of the night to the sound of sirens is the hardest thing for every mother and father during a war. It's a terrible feeling when you can't protect your child from a threat," the First Lady said.
During the event, the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, the Ministry of Social Policy and the Office of the President of Ukraine, with the support of UNICEF, announced that they had joined forces and initiated a program to build a better care system for children. The national program is based on evidence-based approaches aimed at strengthening families, communities and the care system to ensure caring and safe family-based care for all children, including those with disabilities and from other vulnerable groups. The program is based on the belief that every child should grow up in a safe and caring family. This includes ensuring the rights to housing, family care, protection, health care and inclusive education for the most vulnerable children.
"Children always suffer the most from war. Because they are the most dependent on adults, on circumstances. It is through the example of children that we understand the abnormality and inhumanity of this attack. Children should not be orphaned and lose their families. Among us today are those who fight against orphanhood – family-type children’s homes. I thank you. You are heroes. Our goal is for every child left alone to meet such heroes. We never thought that in today's world our children would have to fight for survival. But we will do everything to make sure they survive, to make them believe in themselves and the world despite everything. For them to win. They are Ukraine," Olena Zelenska summarized.