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The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in his New Year message that “we cannot afford to be the generation that fiddled, while the planet burned” but “there is also hope”.

The United Nations will continue to stand with the world’s youth in 2020 to protect our planet – UN Secretary-General stated in the New Year Message obtained by the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

“From climate action to gender equality to social justice and human rights, your generation is on the frontlines and in the headlines”, he said. “I am inspired by your passion and determination”.

Noting that young people are “rightly demanding a role in shaping the future”, he said: “I am with you. The United Nations stands with you – and belongs to you”.

He pointed out that 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of the Organization and “we are launching a Decade of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our blueprint for a fair globalization”.

“This year, the world needs young people” to keep speaking out, thinking big, pushing boundaries and keeping up the pressure, the Secretary-General stated and stressed for “peace and happiness in 2020”.