UN chief: Extremists are using the coronavirus lockdown to spread hatred and recruit young people

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning that extremist groups are taking advantage of Covid-19 lock downs to intensify social media efforts to spread hatred and recruit young people who are spending more time online.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, he said, one of every five young people was not getting an education, training or working, and one of every four was affected by violence or conflict. And he lamented that every year, 12 million girls become mothers when they are still children.

Guterres told a UN Security Council meeting on youth, peace and security that “these frustrations and, frankly, failures to address them by those in power today, fuel declining confidence in political establishments and institutions.”

“When such a cycle takes hold, it is all too easy for extremist groups to exploit the anger and despair, and the risk of radicalisation climbs,” he said.

But despite these challenges, the UN chief said young people “are still finding ways to engage, support each other, and to demand and drive change” – including in the fight against Covid-19.

Source: Stuff