A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals alarming statistics about the mental health of teenagers worldwide.
According to the WHO, approximately 1.3 billion adolescents are suffering from mental disorders.
This translates to nearly one in seven young people globally facing serious mental health challenges.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgent need for increased investment in mental health services.
He warned that neglecting adolescent mental health, sexual, and reproductive health could have severe consequences.
“If we do not address these issues, we will face life-threatening outcomes for young people,” Tedros stated.
The report highlights a concerning trend: rising rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among youth.
Tedros noted that conditions like syphilis and chlamydia are becoming more common, particularly among teenagers.
He stressed that untreated STIs could lead to lifelong health problems.
“Failing to provide adequate access to sexual and reproductive healthcare will have dire implications,” he warned.
Adolescence is a critical period for personal development, making it essential to promote healthy habits and rights.
“Promoting the health and rights of young people is key to building a better future,” said Tedros.
He urged governments worldwide to invest in programs supporting adolescent health and education.
The report was launched during the UN Summit of the Future, emphasizing the need for global collaboration.
Rajat Khosla, executive director of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, echoed Tedros’s sentiments.
“Adolescents can drive positive change when given the opportunity,” Khosla stated.
“Leaders must listen to young people and involve them in decision-making processes,” she added.
Indigenous Peoples in Russia Face Extinction Due to War Mobilization
In a stark warning, a UN expert reported that Russia’s Indigenous Peoples are at risk of extinction.
Mariana Katzarova, the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia, highlighted the heavy toll of military mobilization.
“Most mobilization efforts have targeted minority communities, particularly small-numbered nations,” Katzarova said.
She cited data showing that the death rate among these groups is alarmingly high.
“There are almost no Slavic faces on the frontlines,” she pointed out.
Instead, the faces of Buryatians, Kalmykians, and Chechens dominate the battlefield imagery.
Katzarova expressed concern about the recruitment tactics employed by Russian authorities.
“They are going door to door in Indigenous villages, forcibly taking men to fight,” she stated.
The expert criticized the government for focusing mobilization efforts far from major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.
“In remote areas, people often do not feel they have a choice or know their rights,” she explained.
Katzarova plans to present her findings to the Human Rights Council soon.
Belarus Faces Severe Human Rights Violations Amid Crackdown
The UN Human Rights Council has reported ongoing human rights violations in Belarus.
Karinna Moskalenko, chair of a panel of independent experts, provided a grim overview of the situation.
“Serious abuses are still occurring against civil society and government critics,” she said.
The panel’s report highlights numerous cases of torture, gender-based violence, and wrongful imprisonment.
Since the disputed re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko in 2020, the government has intensified its crackdown on dissent.
Moskalenko noted that most political opponents have either been imprisoned or forced into exile.
“The government instills a pervasive climate of fear, quelling all avenues of dissent,” she stated.
New technologies for monitoring online activities have emerged, further stifling free expression.
“This surveillance is particularly concerning as we approach the upcoming presidential elections,” Moskalenko warned.
The situation in Belarus underscores the urgent need for international attention and intervention.
