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President Türk awarded a Gold Plaque of Honorary Ambassador of the Culture of Peace

Zagreb, 25.10.2010  |  press release


The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, attends the official opening of the sixth congress of unity of the League of Humanists entitled 'Protection of Children of the World with a Wounded Childhood' (Photo: Tina Kosec/STA)The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk and the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr Ivo Josipović, attended the official opening of the sixth congress of unity of the League of Humanists, entitled 'Protection of Children of the World with a Wounded Childhood'. On this occasion, President Türk received a Gold Plaque of 'Honorary Ambassador of the Culture of Peace', awarded to him by the International League of Humanists for his activities in providing assistance to child victims of violence.

In his address, President Türk said that he highly appreciates this award, which he understands as an obligation to continue to be active in the future. He emphasised that, in the brutal wars that took place in the area of the former Yugoslavia at the end of 20th century, human rights were severely violated and civilians were systematically attacked, including many children. He pointed out that nowadays, when there is peace in the mentioned area, care must be taken of the victims of the past wars and added that there are still wars going on elsewhere in the world.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, attends the official opening of the sixth congress of unity of the League of Humanists entitled 'Protection of Children of the World with a Wounded Childhood' (Photo: Tina Kosec/STA)President Türk recalled his operation of humanitarian aid to children affected by the war in the Middle East, in Gaza. He highlighted that approximately 50 Palestinian children have so far been treated at the Soča University Rehabilitation Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, who lost their limbs in the war and had severe problems and for whom an improvement of life can only be achieved by providing the best possible expertise and care. The president added that friends from Gaza, Jordan, Israel and Egypt had cooperated in this project.

The president emphasised that children should also be helped in peace. He pointed out that children also become victims of violence in such circumstances. In the president’s words, children therefore need crisis centres where they can find shelter in the case of family violence or when they have no other refuge. Last year, the president established a foundation entitled 'Let Them Dream', which strives to enable children to live their childhood, their hopes and their dreams. One of the main projects of this foundation is precisely financial assistance to crisis centres for child victims of violence.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, attends the official opening of the sixth congress of unity of the League of Humanists entitled 'Protection of Children of the World with a Wounded Childhood' (Photo: Tina Kosec/STA)At the end of his address, President Türk pointed out that care for children is one of the key humanitarian considerations. He expressed his gratitude to the International League of Humanists for taking care for this message, since, in his words, this is the only way to a better world.
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