Spouse of the President of Slovenia, Dr. Aleš Musar, Attends the Third Summit of Partners of World Leaders
Dr. Aleš Musar, the Spouse of the President of Slovenia, visited Kyiv at the invitation of Ms. Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, to participate in the Third Summit of Partners of World Leaders. The theme of this year’s meeting was mental health. Participants committed to prioritizing mental health on the global agenda, integrating it into the programs of international organizations, and incorporating it into national policies.
Kyiv, Ukraine,, 6 Sept 2023
Eight partners of world leaders attended the summit in person, with addresses delivered by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who also met with Dr. Musar.
Dr. Musar was one of the keynote speakers on a panel discussing the impact of war on mental health. The panel also included First Ladies Olena Zelenska (Ukraine), Diana Nausėdienė (Lithuania), and Eva Pavlová (Czech Republic). According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, 90% of Ukrainians experience anxiety disorders, prolonged stress, and trauma due to the war.
During the panel, Dr. Musar emphasized the critical importance of mental well-being as a foundation for societal development. “The concept of mental well-being is vital: emotional, social, and psychological stability contribute to a society’s positive orientation and help prevent mental health disorders,” he stated. He also shared Slovenia’s experience in providing psychosocial support to refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Building on this experience, Slovene Philanthropy will soon begin training 100 teachers in the Odesa region to provide psychosocial assistance to thousands of children traumatized by the war.
A vital link between Slovenia and Ukraine is the ITF Enhancing Human Security organisation, which has been active in Ukraine since 2015. Last year, ITF facilitated psychosocial rehabilitation for 80 Ukrainian refugees in Slovenia. During his visit to Kyiv, Dr. Musar attended the opening of ITF’s new office in the Ukrainian capital. “I am proud that with the support of the Slovenian government, ITF has established an office in Kyiv to coordinate its activities in Ukraine,” he noted.
Dr. Musar also participated in a tribute to children who fell victim to Russian aggression and viewed an exhibition on the Ukraine-Russia war at the Ukrainian National Museum’s memorial complex.
The day before the summit, he visited the Olena Zelenska Foundation, which focuses on rebuilding hospitals in the Kharkiv region, providing housing for large foster families, and enabling students to continue online learning. He also traveled to Bucha, where he visited the memorial for the Battle of Moshchun, laid flowers at the monument for the destroyed village of Horenka, and toured temporary housing facilities for its residents. Additionally, he paid his respects at the memorial for civilian victims near St. Andrew’s Church in Bucha, honoring all the victims of the war.
