On December 5, 2024, the opening ceremony of the VI All-Republican Forum of Azerbaijani Children, dedicated to the topic "Ecology and Children," was held in collaboration between the State Committee for Family, Women, and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Science and Education.

The national anthem of Azerbaijan was played, and a moment of silence was observed in honor of the late national leader Heydar Aliyev and martyrs.

Later Farah Aliyeva, Head of the Department of Humanitarian Policy, Diaspora, Multiculturalism, and Religious Affairs of the Presidential Administration delivered President Ilham Aliyev's message to the participants, a video titled "We Are Azerbaijani Children!" was shown.

A gift was presented by children to President Ilham Aliyev, symbolizing the successful outcome of the 29th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) and the "Year of Solidarity for a Green World."

In her opening speech, Bahar Muradova, the Chair of the State Committee for Family, Women, and Children Affairs, welcomed the participants and guests, thanked the President for his congratulatory message, and highlighted the importance of this attention and support for children as a great source of inspiration. She expressed her best wishes for the success of the first forum attended by children representing all regions of the country, which was held in a sovereign and territorially intact Azerbaijan.

Muradova noted that the victory achieved by the Azerbaijani army opened new horizons for the country and posed important responsibilities for citizens to deserve the new development phase of the nation.

She emphasized that children are the carriers of national and spiritual values and the guarantors of the future. She noted that the protection of children's rights is one of the priority areas of the state’s social policy. The legislation in this field is continuously improved, and various state programs are being implemented to ensure children's comprehensive development and welfare.

Muradova described the forum as an excellent opportunity to discuss the most important issues of today and tomorrow, share children's ideas and initiatives, and unite efforts for a better society, a greener country, and a safer world.

She highlighted the importance of children's participation in protecting their rights and emphasized the need to consider their opinions in the development of laws, state programs, and action plans. She noted that national forums have become an important platform for ensuring children's participation and protecting their interests.

Addressing global issues like climate change, resource depletion, and environmental pollution, Muradova discussed the importance of ecological awareness and increasing children's participation in ecological projects to create a more sustainable environment. She also mentioned the demands raised by children at the COP29 roundtable, stressing that these demands would be taken into account in global climate change documents.

In his speech, Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev emphasized the importance of preserving identity, culture, and national values for the Azerbaijani people. He also highlighted the significance of educating girls, noting that in the past decade, girls have outperformed boys academically. He stressed the importance of providing every child with access to proper education.

Rauf Hajiyev, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, mentioned that efforts are underway to develop a new climate strategy for the country, including increasing the use of renewable energy sources and developing more efficient energy technologies. He added that Azerbaijan has made significant steps toward transitioning to a "green economy."

UNICEF Azerbaijan Representative Saja Faruq Abdullah emphasized that children and young people have the right to a clean, safe, and sustainable environment. He also discussed how the climate crisis is not only affecting the planet but also changing children's lives, futures, and opportunities. He mentioned that UNICEF had worked with partners in Azerbaijan to increase children's awareness of climate change and involved them in national and international climate-related events.

The forum continued with a dialogue between children and official representatives. The participants, including Deputy Ministers and other prominent figures, answered children's questions during the discussions.

In the second part of the forum, children will group by topics, engage in discussions, and present relevant proposals. At the end of the day, the results of the discussions will be shared, and a message will be addressed to President Ilham Aliyev.

The event was attended by 300 children from all cities and districts of Azerbaijan, as well as children representing the Republic of Türkiye.