On July 24, the Forum “European Guarantee for Children. Preparation for Implementation in Ukraine” was held in Kyiv with the participation of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska. This large-scale event brought together efforts to combat child poverty and social exclusion.
The event was also attended by representatives of the government, international partners, communities, and civil society. Donetsk Oblast, represented by Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration Oleksandr Shevchenko, joined this extremely important event.
The forum was organized by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration with the support of key international partners (UNICEF, the German state development bank KfW, and the European Union).
Olena Zelenska highlighted the alarming impact of the war on Ukrainian children. According to her, 44% of Ukrainian children show signs of potential PTSD, according to the Future Index study. In addition, UNICEF data shows that almost 70% of young Ukrainians do not have access to adequate food and housing.
The First Lady spoke about initiatives that have already been implemented and are planned to improve the situation of children. These include school meal reform, the Olena Zelenska Foundation's work to set up shelters in schools and kindergartens, the opening of Superhero Schools, the construction of housing for large families, and the planned opening of 12-21 youth psychological support centers this year.
Two key panel discussions were held as part of the Forum, allowing participants to delve deeply into the issues and find effective solutions:
The international dimension of implementing the European Child Guarantee: the experience of EU member states and candidate countries. At this session, experts from the European Commission and representatives of European countries shared best practices and successful approaches in the field of child rights protection. Mechanisms for interagency coordination and monitoring were discussed, which enable the effective implementation of policies to combat child poverty and social exclusion.
Best practices and local achievements in overcoming child poverty and social exclusion. Representatives of five Ukrainian communities presented practical examples of successful implementation of initiatives at the local level. Particular attention was paid to local innovations, cross-sectoral partnerships, and community involvement in ensuring the rights of children in difficult life circumstances.
Based on the results of the Forum, priority actions were identified for the effective implementation of the European Child Guarantee in Ukraine. This is an extremely important step towards ensuring social protection, rights, and the best interests of children, which is an integral part of the future development of our country and its European choice. Donetsk Oblast supports these initiatives and is ready to work actively on their implementation, because investing in children is investing in a strong and prosperous society.