08 Dec 2021

COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most important issues affecting the world’s children and young  people today, says President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

 “It has had a devastating effect on families, education, supply chains, peace and security,” he said on day one of the first ever Global Forum for Children and Youth (CY21) Tuesday.

 In a recorded interview with Botswana’s co-host for the three-day event, Cathy Mantswe, the President said the pandemic                                            also affected the world’s ability to converge around important issues.

Sweden is the event’s other host. 

Dr Masisi said if leaders focused on protecting children from COVID-19, they would  be prioritising giving them the skills required, protecting them from abuse and against any form of threat of war, providing them with necessary food and nutrition, safe water and teaching them the skills required to preserve planet earth.

 Expressing his elation that Botswana had been chosen to co-host the event, Dr Masisi said its importance lay in the fact that children were the future and a precious sustainable resource that every nation state had.

If the human race was to be maintained, ‘we better raise  children and protect them properly’, he said.

On the actions  he was taking on children’s issues, President Masisi pointed out that as a Generation Unlimited champion, he recently hosted presidents Mr Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe and Dr Hage Geingob of Namibia to a discussion forum on children and their issues in Kasane.

Themed ‘Re-Imagining the Future’ the event was also attended by children from the four countries.

He said the four heads of state resolved to form a network around children’s issues which they hoped to grow.

 Dr Masisi said during the panel discussions the children told the heads of state what they needed to hear which would help in planning and budgeting.

UN secretary general, Mr António Guterres said this was the time to reignite hope for children as they were trapped by humanitarian emergencies.

Mr Guterres said the forum was a critical step to reset the world for children and young people. 

He encouraged leaders to be a voice for young people and children’s views in business boardrooms and halls of power.

The UN chief urged children and young people to keep calling for change and support one another to build a better tomorrow.  

UNICEF executive director, Ms Henrietta Fore said it was time for the world  to pull together in addressing issues affecting young people and children. 

She said a survey conducted  in 21 countries found optimism among young people who believed the world and childhood were getting better with each generation despite the pandemic and climate change.

Ms Fore however said the study also found that young people were impatient and demanded faster progress in the fight  against discrimination, more cooperation among countries and to be included in efforts to create solutions to global challenges.

Ending today, the UNICEF-organised forum explored issues uppermost on the minds of children, young people and families that require immediate attention as the world allocates resources for 2022 and beyond.BOPA