Emine Erdoğan met with UN officials to discuss global child protection, foster care promotion, and cooperation, highlighting Türkiye’s Volunteer Ambassadors Project and addressing the plight of children in Gaza.

Türkiye's First Lady, Emine Erdoğan, held a significant meeting with Najat Maalla M'jid, the United Nations Special Representative on Violence Against Children, as well as the UN Resident Coordinator in Türkiye, Babatunde Ahonsi, and Paolo Marchi, UNICEF’s representative in Türkiye.

The meeting took place on Thursday at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. One of the key topics discussed was President Erdoğan’s “Volunteer Ambassadors Project,” which was launched in 2012 with the aim of placing children in nurturing family environments. This initiative was spotlighted during the meeting as an exemplary global model for child welfare.

Paolo Marchi emphasized Emine Erdoğan’s influential leadership both within Türkiye and internationally, particularly in the sphere of child protection. He acknowledged her vital role in advancing the cause of safeguarding children's rights and well-being.

Throughout the meeting, participants exchanged views on the various initiatives currently being implemented and explored potential areas for collaboration. Türkiye’s Family and Social Services Minister, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, was also in attendance, underscoring the importance of the discussions.

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 added that the discussions also covered shared efforts to promote the foster care model globally through the Volunteer Ambassadors Project. Emine Erdoğan emphasized that they reached a mutual understanding on the necessity for every country to establish systems that not only ensure children grow up healthy and safe under state protection but also enable their integration into loving family environments.

Furthermore, she noted that the participants exchanged ideas concerning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, focusing particularly on the suffering of children and the practical steps that can be taken to protect them. “Being the voice of children and ensuring that they reach a peaceful and hopeful future is our common duty. I find every bit of cooperation established on this path to be very valuable and hope our solidarity continues to increase,” she stated.