On the opening day of a new UN Human Rights Council session on Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated his “full support to the people of Myanmar”, three weeks after the military takeover that has brought thousands out onto the streets in protest.
Emotional vulnerability is making young people prime targets for recruitment by violent extremists.
That’s one of the messages to emerge from a panel on youth and countering violent extremism, at UN Headquarters in early July.
Youth Civil Activism Network, or YouthCAN, led the discussion, which demonstrated ways in which included ways in which positive messaging could help reach young people at school and through social media.
The Sahel region in Africa risks becoming a hub for mass migration or recruitment by extremist groups without sustained international engagement, the Security Council heard on Wednesday.
UN envoy Hiroute Guebre Sellassie told the 15-member body that security is the main concern for the region, whose countries are among the poorest in the world.
In addition to the threats posed by terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram, Sahel countries are also combating drug trafficking, desertification and lack of opportunities for their young people.
Dianne Penn reports.
