UN chief calls for ‘tangible improvements’ in the face of injustice, poor governance
April 07, 2021
The impacts of COVID-19 have rendered one-in-eight young people, the majority of whom are girls, without access to education. Pictured are Ethiopian girls learning about the harmful practice of FMG. — courtesy UNICEF/Meklit Mersha
GENEVA — Leaders across the world need to “move beyond platitudes” about young people, and deliver a better future for them all, Secretary-General António Guterres told the 10th Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum on Wednesday.
He described the gathering online as “the UN’s foremost platform” for tackling the many pressing challenges facing young people today, including the impacts of COVID-19, which, among other things, have rendered one-in-eight young people — the majority girls — without access to education. One-in-six are without jobs and mental health problems are rising fast.