The First Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen - Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform

The First Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen

August 23, 2021

On Ukraine's National Flag Day, the First Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen took place in Kyiv

The event brought together 12 First Ladies and Gentlemen and 20 guests from various corners of the world. Its main focus was "Soft Power in the New Reality". The event was held at the National Reserve "Sophia of Kyiv" — the birthplace of Ukrainian statehood.

"Ukraine initiated this summit to unite the efforts of First Ladies and Gentlemen around the world and to create an effective international platform not just for exchanging experiences, but also for implementing joint projects for the well-being of people," stated Olena Zelenska.

As a result of the event, the Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Declaration was adopted, laying the groundwork for fruitful cooperation in an international platform to address humanitarian issues worldwide.

Thanks to the Declaration, we have created new opportunities to enhance cooperation between First Ladies and Gentlemen of different countries and joint charitable and social projects and programmes. The document has become the foundation of friendship, partnership, and the holding of future summits.

Address of the First Lady of Ukraine

Address of the First Lady of Ukraine

The Summit will take place in extraordinary times when all countries, regardless of their level of development, face enormous challenges. They can only be solved through joint efforts.

There is a role and place for First Ladies and Gentlemen on this path. The “soft power” of First Ladies, who do not have political power, is capable of changing the reality around them. They achieve their goals and get the desired result not by participating in politics but through humanitarian projects and social connections.

In the new reality, soft power with firm decisions will help the world. Welcome to the first Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen!

Video recording

Video recording

The first Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen brought its participants together and initiated the creation of an international platform for sharing experiences and implementing joint projects. You can watch the video recording of the event here:

First Ladies and Gentlemen

  • Olеna Zelenska

    First Lady of Ukraine, founder of the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform

    Ukraine
  • Andra Levite

    First Lady of Latvia (2019 – 2023)

    Republic of Latvia
  • Diana Nausėdienė

    First Lady of the Republic of Lithuania

    Lithuania
  • Claudine Aoun

    Daughter of the President of the Lebanese Republic

    Republic of Lebanon
  • Tamara Vučić

    Spouse of the President of the Republic of Serbia

    Serbia
  • Amélie Derbaudrenghien Michel

    Spouse of the President of the European Council

    European Union
  • Michelle Bolsonaro

    First Lady of Brazil from 2019 to 2022

    Brazil
  • Sanja Musić Milanović

    First Lady of Croatia

    Croatia
  • Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton

    First Lady of the USA (1993 — 2001), Secretary of State (2009 — 2013)

    United States of America
  • Elke Büdenbender

    Spouse of the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany

    Germany
  • Claudia Vanessa Dobles Camargo

    First Lady of the Republic of Costa Rica (2018 – 2022)

    Republic of Costa Rica

Participants of the Summit

  • Andreas Schleicher
    Andreas Schleicher
    Director for Education and Skills, and Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), he has been in charge of the PISA program
  • Kateryna Levchenko
    Kateryna Levchenko
    Ukrainian Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, member of the Public Council for Human Rights under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, chairman of the Board of the La Strada International Association
  • Ăsa Regnér
    Ăsa Regnér
    Deputy Executive Director, UN Women
  • Maria Efrosinina
    Maria Efrosinina
    TV presenter, Honorary Ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund, co-founder of the Charity Weekend Festival
  • Nassim Nicholas Taleb
    Nassim Nicholas Taleb
    Former trader, researcher of philosophical, mathematical, and mostly practical problems involving probability, author of a multivolume essay Incerto
  • Robin Wright
    Robin Wright
    Actress and a devoted advocate
  • Sahraa Karimi
    Sahraa Karimi
    Afghan film director and producer, chairperson of the state-owned Afghan Film movie production company
  • Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
    Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
    Director-General of the World Health Organization
  • Viktor Liashko
    Viktor Liashko
    Doctor, Minister of Health of Ukraine, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine, Honored Doctor of Ukraine
  • Yana Panfilova
    Yana Panfilova
    CEO Teenergizer, Ukrainian activist
  • Zoya Lytvyn
    Zoya Lytvyn
    Ukrainian public figure, Chair of the Osvitoria Public Association, founder of the Novopechersk School and the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine

Summit Program

  • Panel 1

    Central panel: "Better cooperation for a better world: what's the best answer to the new challenges?"

    Issues to discuss:
    – Where to get inspiration, energy and powers?
    – How to turn a crisis into an opportunity?
    – What to do in a world where every nation faces similar challenges?

  • Panel 2

    Thematic panel: "Key to the new reality: leave no one behind"

    – What is the role of the First Lady/Gentleman in improving public health?
    – How to make education universally accessible in the new reality?
    – How you contribute to the world without barriers and discrimination?

Summit's Documents

Here, you can view the documents drafted and approved during the summit.

Download All Files

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