New initiative needed for children

BRIGHTON, United Kingdom: On the eve of the United Nation (UN)’s 75th anniversary, Antonio Guterres, the UN’s secretary-general, has declared that the coronavirus pandemic is the world’s top security threat. He has called for action – for greater international cooperation in controlling outbreaks and developing an affordable vaccine, which is available to all. Such action is needed and possible even in the absence of a large gathering of world leaders in New York to celebrate the anniversary. But children today in every country need more.

Thirty years ago, on Sept. 29 to 30, 1990, the largest gathering of world leaders that had ever taken place, met at the UN Headquarters under the auspices of the UN Children’s Fund, Unicef. This was The World Summit for Children. It was an enormous success, gathering headlines around the world and leading to worldwide action for children.