Each year on the first summer day in Ukraine, as well as in many countries of the world, the International Children's Day is celebrated.
This date was established four years after the end of the most terrible in the history of a mankind World War II that took lives of tens of millions of people. A vow to selflessly fight for maintaining strong peace, as the only guarantee of children’s happiness, was made during the International Women’s Congress in Paris in 1949.
Today, when our country faces extremely complicated challenges, the task of preserving life, health and welfare of children is more than ever topical.
Children are the biggest richness of every person, every family and every country. We are ready to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and work persistently by uniting efforts of the entire Ukrainian community in order to secure decent and happy life of children in the conditions of a guaranteed peace and safety.
International Children's Day reminds the authority and the society of the necessity to strictly adhere to children’s rights, which is an indispensable condition for shaping human and democratic society. Only a democratic state can respect and truly protect rights of its children.
On this day I want to express my gratitude to all those, whose professional duty lies in protecting children’s rights and who do not merely fulfill this duty but serve children. The words of especial respect are addressed to people who take care of children deprived of parental care and are most of all in need of warmth and love.
I sincerely wish every young citizens of Ukraine cloudless sky, sound health, family comfort, success in studying, as well as interesting and sense-bearing leisure time. May your faces beam with joy and happiness. I wish you good fortune, well-being, patience, inspiration and may all your devoted wishes come true!
Oleksandr TURCHYNOV