Uganda, Nov. 23 -- We are living through daunting times that could jeopardise the progress made in the last decades to advance the well-being and rights of all children and young people. Today, the world looks more frightening, unstable and uncertain for children and their future.

Multiple and compounding crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters intensified due to climate change, armed conflicts, forced migration, economic hardship, poverty, inequality and widespread hunger have exacerbated the breakdown of families and left many more children to grow up alone.

An estimated 240 million children and young people around the world are now without parental care or at the risk of losing it. Even if these challenges might appea...