Ankara, April 18, 2025 — The Europe Today: Türkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan held a high-level meeting on Thursday at the Presidential Complex in Ankara with United Nations Special Representative on Violence Against Children Najat Maalla M’jid, UN Resident Coordinator in Türkiye Babatunde Ahonsi, and UNICEF Representative in Türkiye Paolo Marchi, to discuss advancing child protection efforts globally.
The meeting centered on Türkiye’s “Volunteer Ambassadors Project”, initiated in 2012 under the leadership of First Lady Erdoğan. The initiative aims to provide children in state care with family-based environments, and has been internationally recognized as a pioneering model in promoting the foster care system.
Paolo Marchi praised First Lady Erdoğan’s leadership on both national and global stages in safeguarding children’s rights, stating she has become “the voice of children” and a strong advocate for their welfare and protection.
Türkiye’s Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, also participated in the meeting. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation, exchanging best practices, and enhancing protective mechanisms to combat all forms of violence against children.
Following the meeting, First Lady Erdoğan shared a statement on social media platform X, noting:
“We discussed strengthening international cooperation to prevent all forms of violence against children and making protective mechanisms more effective.”
She emphasized mutual interest in expanding the reach of the Volunteer Ambassadors Project and fostering the global adoption of family-based care systems.
“We expressed our joint vision of creating structures in every country where children not only grow up under state protection but also within safe, nurturing family environments,” Erdoğan added.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza was also addressed, with a particular focus on the suffering of children in conflict zones. First Lady Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to amplifying the voices of vulnerable children and supporting their right to a peaceful, hopeful future.
“We also exchanged ideas on the tragedy experienced in Gaza and concrete steps that can be taken to protect children. Being the voice of children and ensuring that they reach a peaceful and hopeful future is our common duty,” she stated.
She concluded by expressing hope for continued solidarity and deeper international cooperation in child protection initiatives, underscoring the global importance of joint efforts to safeguard the rights and well-being of all children.
