One in 10 children aged 5 to 19 – 188 million worldwide – Now live with obesity, placing them at increased risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

“When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer talking about insufficient children,” said Unicef Executive director Catherine Russell.

“Obesity is an increasing concern that can have an impact on children’s health and development. Ultra-transformed foods are increasingly replacing fruits, vegetables and proteins At a time when nutrition plays an essential role in children’s growth, cognitive development and mental health, “she added.

The report, Food profit: how food environments fail childrenBases on data from more than 190 countries and highlights a brutal change.

One in five out of five

Since 2000, the number of insufficient people among five to 19 years old has increased from almost 13% to 9.2%.

During the same period, obesity tripled, from three% to 9.4%. Today, obesity rates go beyond sub-ponderation in each region, except sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

The situation is particularly acute in the Pacific islands, where traditional regimes have been moved by cheap -up -based and energy -rich foods.

High income countries are not exempt: 27% of children in Chile and 21% in the United States and the United Arab Emirates are affected.

Worldwide, One in five children and adolescents, or 391 million, are overweightWith almost half now classified as obese.

Children are considered overweight when they are much heavier than what is healthy for their age, sex and size.

Obesity is a severe form of overweight and leads to a higher risk of developing insulin resistance and high blood pressure, as well as potentially fatal diseases later in life, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

Marketing to blame

The report indicates that powerful sales forces shaping these results. Ultra-trained and fast foods, rich in sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and additives, dominate children’s diets and are marketed aggressivelyinfluencing children’s diet.

In a UNICEF survey of 64,000 young people in 170 countries, 75% said they saw announcements for sugary drinks, snacks or fast food the previous week.

Sixty percent said that the announcements made them want to eat the products. Even in countries affected by conflicts, 68% of young people said they were exposed to these advertisements.

These models warn UNICEF, have astounding economic consequences. By 2035, the global cost of overweight and obesity levels should exceed 4 dollars per year. In Peru alone, health problems related to obesity could cost more than $ 210 billion in a generation.

The government must act

However, some governments act. Mexico-where sugary drinks and ultra-transformed food represent 40% of children’s daily calories-has prohibited their sale in public schools, improving food environments for more than 34 million children.

UNICEF urges governments around the world to follow up on radical reforms: compulsory food labeling, marketing restrictions and taxes on unhealthy products; Prohibit junk food in schools; stronger social protection programs; and guarantees to protect the development of industry interference policies.

“In many countries, we see the double burden of malnutrition, the existence of growth delay and obesity. This requires targeted interventions, “said Russell.

“” Nutritious and affordable foods must be available for each child to support their growth and development. We need the urgency of policies that support parents and guards to access nutritious and healthy foods for their children, “she concluded.

In a statement, António Guterres spoke out against what he called a “blatant violation” of Qatari sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He insisted that all parties must focus on making a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, “not (on) destroy it”.

No senior senior director killed, claims Hamas

Hamas reported that six people had been killed, including the son of one of his exiled leaders of the Gaza Strip – but added that its superior negotiators and senior officials had all survived.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attack was the sole responsibility of Israel, although the White House spokesman said that the President of the United States had been informed in advance and ordered his civil servants to alert Doha-but that the message had been transmitted too late to stop the attack.

President Donald Trump said in an article on social networks that Qatar’s bombing, a “sovereign nation and a close ally” in the United States, does not advance the objectives that Israel or in the United States.

“Clear violation”: Qatar

The Qatari government has condemned the attack as a “blatant violation of international law” and the Qatari Prime Minister declared during a press conference that “there must be a response from the whole region to such barbaric actions”.

Qatar-alongside the United States and Egypt-had negotiated vast efforts to end the Gaza War which began on October 7, 2023 when Hamas and other activists attacked colonies in southern Israel.

It will be “no ordinary session”, it has engaged, with the multilateral system assaulted by the crises which overlap and the increased disunity.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Baerbock only becomes the fifth woman in history preside over the general assembly.

In a symbolic gesture connecting the past to the present, it was sworn in on the founding charter of the UN of the San Francisco conference in 1945 – and accepted the hammer decorated with the assembly of its predecessor, Philémon Yang from Cameroon.

The Charter itself, preserved by the American national archives, has returned to the UN headquarters for the first time in decades.

Now exposed until September, The 1945 document is more than a historic artifact – It is a living reminder of the collective commitment to strengthen peace, to maintain human rights and to pursue shared values ​​and objectives thanks to multilateral cooperation.

The hammer carries its own legendary weight. A gift from Iceland, it is larger and more decorated than those used in the United Nations conference rooms. Symbol of order in the “Parliament of the World”, it is used to open and close meetings, adopt resolutions and, sometimes, bring the assembly to silence.

The world needs the United Nations

In her addressMs. Baerbock has recognized the dark realities confronted with millions around the world – hungry children from Gaza and Afghan girls prohibited from school – to the families of Ukraine hiding missile attacks, and island from the Pacific looking at their houses swallowed by the sea.

“” Our world suffersIndeed, ”she told the delegates in the room of the General Assembly.

“” But imagine how much pain there would be without the United Nations.“”

Ms. Baerbock highlighted the vital role of the UN in humanitarian assistance, citing millions that rely on agencies such as the UN children’s funds (Unicef), the global food program (Wfp) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

It urged Member States to return the UN “adapted to the 21st century” by progressing reforms, implementing the Pact for the future adopted last year and focusing on substance rather than procedure.

“” The general meeting must focus on its mandates and respect its commitments,She said, promising to serve the 193 members also, to be “a bridge manufacturer” and to make sure that each voice is heard.

Among the priorities it has set for the coming year are the UN80 reform program, guiding the process of selection of the next secretary general and peace, sustainable development and human rights.

The charter is not self-executing: guterres

Secretary General António GuterresCongratulations Ms. Baerbock for her election, praised her vision and experience, while urging governments to summon the same determination that brought together the Nations to establish the United Nations 80 years ago.

“” The United Nations provide the place. The charter provides the tools, ” he said. “” But nothing can happen without this assembly – all of you – working as one.“”

Mr. Guterres underlined the need to cure divisions, to recruit international law, to accelerate action on the Sustainable development objectivesand transition to renewable energies while supporting developing countries.

He underlined the pact of last year for the future as “shot in the arm” for multilateralism and called on Member States to “re-accumulate confidence and faith in others”.

The “collective promise” remains

Earlier in the day, the outgoing president of the Assembly Philémon Yang closed the 79th session, highlighting initiatives on humanitarian law, control of mild weapons, sustainable development and children’s work – as well as dialogues on multilingualism and the role of women in mediation.

Mr. Yang, who underlined gender equality and Security advice The reform during his mandate also supervised the commemoration of the 80th anniversary.

“” Member States have clearly indicated that despite growing world conflicts, the Charter and the United Nations itself represent a collective promise for a better future world” he said.

A year of high participations

The presidency of Ms. Baerbock arrives at a pivotal moment for the United Nations.

In addition to the navigation of Ukraine’s conflicts in Sudan, the Assembly will supervise the implementation of the Pact for the future and are preparing for the critical selection of the next Secretary General.

She challenged delegates to adopt courage and unity: “If girls in Afghanistan or parents in Gaza can wake up – in the darkest hours of life – and move forward, then we too. We owe them. But we also owe it, because there is simply no alternative. »»

More than 41,000 incidents of violence against school -aged children were reported by the UN in 2024.

The countries with the highest violations were Israel and the Palestinian territory occupied, notably the Gaza Strip, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, Nigeria and Haiti.

In a message to mark the International day to protect educationCommemorated each year on September 9, the secretary general of the United Nations, António Guterres said That “each violation has deep consequences, not only for teachers and young learners, but for the future of communities and whole countries”, adding that “no child should risk death from learning”.

The UN chiefAnnual report on Children and armed conflictFor 2024, not only underlines an resurgence of attacks against schools, but also an increase of 34% of rape and other forms of sexual violence perpetrated against children.

In addition, the number of children victims of what the UN calls serious violations has increased by 17% due to kidnapping, recruitment and other types of violence, characterized by the UN as “an alarming escalation of brutality”.

Children of Gaza deprived of the right to education

In Gaza, where more than 2.3 million people were moved by the two -year war, 660,000 children remain outside the school and the classrooms have been converted into shelters.

“There is no more education now. We live inside the school, where we are moved, eating and sleeping, “said Diana, a child living in Gaza.

Despite the current conflict, more than 68,000 children in Gaza have been affected by temporary learning spaces offering psychosocial education and support.

The UN children’s funds, UnicefAlso recycle the pallets in school furniture and the conversion of boxes provided in tables and chairs.

Obstacles to education in Ukraine

In Ukraine, 5.3 million children face obstacles to education, and around 115,000 are completely outside the school due to the current war.

“1,850 installations have been damaged since the start of the conflict,” said Nelson Rodrigues, specialist in UNICEF education.

With many schools on the front line closed or operating remotely, more than 420,000 children frequent the school entirely online, while a million use a hybrid model.

UNICEF supported the rehabilitation of 57,000 school facilities affected by the war, which has enabled a considerable number of children to return to class.

The United Nations agency has also provided catch -up and repair learning, allowing children to recover from disturbances and continue their studies.

Meanwhile, between January and July this year, the UN and its humanitarian partners supported 370,000 children and teachers, mainly on the front line and in reception communities.

Respect schools

The parties faced all over the world are forced under international law, to respect schools as security places and to hold responsible for attacks on attacks.

“The pen, the book and the classroom are all more powerful than the sword,” said UN Guterres secretary general.

“Let us continue and protect the fundamental right of each child to learn in security and peace.”

“” The world spends much more to wage war than to build peace»The UN Secretary General António Guterres said during a press briefing for his new report On the threat posed by the constant increase in military spending.

Security expenditure has increased in the five global regions in 2024, marking the most steep increase from one year to the next for at least the last three decades. Compared to the 2.7 billions of dollars intended for military budgets, the world could eliminate extreme poverty for a little less than $ 300 billion.

“” A safer world begins by investing at least as much in the fight against poverty as in the fight against wars »» said Mr. Guterres.

A choice between help or weapons

The alarming amount spent on costs related to weapons last year is 750 times the regular budget of 2024 from the United Nations. It also has almost 13 times the development aid provided by the OECD Development aid committee in 2024, indicating a brutal compromise between military spending and sustainable development.

“Redirection even a fraction of today’s military spending could fill the vital gaps – Put children in school, strengthen primary health care, expand clean energy and resilient infrastructure and protect the most vulnerable, “said Guterres.

For a small part of what has been invested in the military in the past year-and the previous decade-the world could finance education for each student in medium-sized and low income countries, eliminate children’s malnutrition on a global scale, finance the adaptation of climate change in the world in development and bring the international community to achieve the adaptation of climate change in the world in development and bring the international community climate to the world development and bring the international community closer to achieve the adaptation of climate change in the world in development and bring the international community together to achieve adaptation Sustainable development objectives (ODD), the UN estimates.

“The rebalancing of global priorities is not optional – it is an imperative for the survival of humanity,” said the head of the United Nations Disarmament Izumi Nakamitsu during the press briefing.

“Sustainable development is in danger”

With only one of the five ODs on the right track, Mr. Guterres stressed that “our shared sustainable development promise is in danger”.

While more is spent for the military, the less spent on social investment, poverty reduction, education, health, environmental protection and infrastructure – hinders the progress of almost all SDGs and undermines The Charter of the United NationsThe UN Cornerstone document.

“But we know that development is an engine of security and multilateral development cooperation work,” said the United Nations Development Program (Predict) The deputy chief Haoliang XU.

“When people’s life improves, when they have access to education, health care, economic opportunities and when they can live a life of dignity and determination of self-determination, We will have more peaceful societies and a more peaceful world. “”

A new security approach

“Investing in people invested in the first line of defense against violence in any society,” said Guterres.

The report calls for a more centered and multidimensional approach that prioritizes diplomacy, international cooperation and opens the way to sustainable development.

In a vicious circle, the lack of economic opportunities, poverty and underdevelopment generate instability-fuel violence and an increase in army spending on the United Nations.

Investing in sustainable development and security has the potential to stop today’s arms race and reduce the need for military spending.

“” The proof is clear: excessive military expenditure does not guarantee peace“Said Mr. Guterres.” It often undermines him – nourish arms races, increase distrust and divert the resources from the very foundations of stability. »»