UN: One in five children worldwide lives in extreme poverty

One in five children worldwide lives in extreme poverty, a situation from which not even wealthy countries are immune despite extensive spending on family support, according to the United Nations. On Saturday, October 17, Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence against Children, expressed concern over rising poverty, food insecurity, and the spread of violence against children. Ms.

M’jid stated that opposition to human rights has increased in some countries, and the rapid advancement of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, has created serious threats for children alongside new opportunities. According to her, these threats include child sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, the creation of fake images and videos using AI, and the involvement of children in criminal activities. The UN official emphasized, citing UN research, that violence against children is a problem that exists in all countries, from the home and school to the wider community.