As Secretary-General, it’s my job to meet with some of the most powerful and important people in the world.

Presidents and prime ministers… scientists… military leaders… scholars and academics… captains of industry and business.

But none of these people are as important — or as inspiring — as the children I meet, like you.

Today, the day we celebrate the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,

I want to speak directly to the children in this room, and through them, to all children around the world.

Dear young people, the future of our planet… the future peace of our world… is in your hands.

I am sorry to say that, try as we might, we adults are letting you down.

Millions of girls and boys like you are in danger, and we are letting them down.

They are fleeing deadly conflicts.

They are going hungry, or without the medicine they need.

They are separated from their parents.

Or making long, dangerous journeys to safety.

They are displaced and living in refugee camps far from home — like the children I have met in South Sudan, Greece, Central African Republic, Jordan, Lebanon and elsewhere.

Many are being bullied online or in school.

Or suffer from discrimination because of their religion, the colour of their skin, or their ethnicity.

And so often, they are victims of violence or exploitation at the hands of adults.

All this is completely unacceptable.

As a global community, we cannot continue failing all the children.

So here is my commitment to you: I will spare no effort to make sure that the United Nations is working every day, every hour, every minute, for your best interests and UNICEF is on the front line of this effort.

Every child has a right to a safe, healthy, peaceful childhood and to develop to their full potential.

Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders…

Tomorrow’s presidents and prime ministers…

Tomorrow’s teachers and innovators…

Tomorrow’s mothers and fathers…

Even tomorrow’s Secretaries-General of the United Nations.

Every day, all of us at the United Nations ask ourselves: how can we work together to best support and protect you — the children of the world?

And how can we benefit from your vision and your suggestions?

How can we shape a more sustainable future that will give every child, in every society, every opportunity not merely to survive, but to thrive?

I’m so glad to see so many young people who have travelled here today, because we must also ask ourselves: what do children think?