“Stronger Together – For Better Health of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults"

The congress brought together more than 450 national and international experts in pediatrics, school medicine, public health, and the health of children, adolescents, and young adults from across Europe and other parts of the world. The central themes focused on contemporary challenges in ensuring the health and well-being of young people, as well as the importance of early prevention of health problems and the creation of environments that encourage healthy lifestyle habits.
 
In his opening address, Dr. Aleš Musar emphasized the importance of exchanging experiences and knowledge among experts and institutions, noting that such cooperation contributes to more effective healthcare systems.
 
Dr. Aleš Musar, spouse of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, together with Prof. Dr. Sanja Musić Milanović, spouse of the President of the Republic of Croatia, participated in a plenary session entitled “The Soft Path to the Zagreb Declaration.” The discussion presented the origins of the Zagreb Declaration, which in Slovenia led to the establishment of an advisory group bringing together experts from all fields related to the issue of childhood weight management. Of particular significance was the transformation of this ad hoc advisory group into a permanent working group under the auspices of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). For the past three years, the group has been promoting measures aimed at preventing childhood obesity in Slovenia and encouraging healthy lifestyles among children and young people.
Later in the congress, they also took part in a roundtable discussion dedicated to the impact and significance of the Zagreb Declaration and its further development.
 
The Zagreb Declaration was adopted in May 2023 at the Summit of Spouses of European Leaders in Zagreb, where participants emphasized the importance of joint action in preventing childhood and adolescent obesity and in creating environments that promote healthy lifestyles. Continued cooperation in this field represents an important step toward implementing the Declaration’s commitments and strengthening efforts to improve the health of future generations.