As part of the NATO Summit in Ankara, a panel discussion was held on the safety of children in the digital environment. The First Lady of the Republic of Turkey, Emine Erdoğan, invited the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, to participate.
This topic is extremely important for Ukraine, as the Russian aggressor not only poses a physical threat but also brings danger into the digital space for our teenagers. The First Lady of Ukraine spoke during the roundtable discussion “Children, Technology, and Safety: Protecting the Next Generation.”
“While we are defending ourselves against the Russian assault, Russians online are trying to recruit our children for terrorism. Most often, it all begins in places familiar to any child: Telegram, TikTok, Instagram, and in games like Roblox or Discord, which are played by millions of children worldwide. Over the past two years alone, our law enforcement officers have uncovered 325 such cases. Behind each number is someone’s child. The youngest was 11 years old: a boy, following instructions from the internet, attempted to set fire to a Ukrainian soldier’s car,” Olena Zelenska said.
The President’s wife emphasized that Ukraine is ready to share its experience in countering this threat. According to the First Lady, the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police conduct lectures in schools regarding dangers and recruitment methods, while the Ministry of Digital Transformation is integrating digital hygiene into the school curriculum.
In Ankara, the President’s wife, along with the Minister of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Turkey, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, also visited the children of the Odesa specialized orphanage “Sonechko” (Sunshine): the children and their educators were evacuated to Turkey in November 2022. At that time, 34 children from the institution received safe shelter in Turkey. Today, 29 of them have already found Ukrainian families, mostly those residing in Turkey, and have started a new life. Five children continue to live in a specially designed space with comfortable conditions for living, education, and rehabilitation. All expenses were covered by the Turkish side.
It is important to note that the First Lady of Turkey, Emine Erdoğan, is a permanent participant of the Global Platform “Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen.” Ukrainians will look forward to her visit to Kyiv for the sixth summit, which will be held at the end of summer. Over the course of two days, the guests will explore the practical, conceptual, and meaningful dimensions of resilience and share the best practices that their countries have preserved and carried through the years. Its theme is “World 2026: Finding Footing in Times of Uncertainty.” In a period of rapid change requiring instant reaction and adaptability, resilience turns into a key element that helps withstand crisis. And this applies to both individuals and societies as a whole.
Author: Kateryna Samoilyk