Secretary-General urges young people to help fight the false illusions of terrorism

Speaking at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gave a major address in which he said terrorism has become an unprecedented threat to international peace, security and development in which no country is immune.

The Secretary-General insisted on the need for peaceful resolution to conflicts, telling the audience at SOAS ``Nothing justifies terrorism, no cause no grievance.’’

The Secretary-General noted the symbolism of delivering his speech in London, where principles of due legal process were developed and established the principle of the rule of law.

In his speech, the Secretary-General insisted on the need to fight terrorism while protecting human rights and on the need to focus on prevention and emphasized development to fight inequality as well as the need to invest in youth.

The Secretary-General also focused on the need to coordinated and determined global action to ``thwart ``the spread of extremist content online,’’ and he underscored the need to win the battle of ideas and enhance efforts at deradicalization.

He urged young people to join in the fight against false illusions and become ``clear-thinking and enlightened citizens.’’ Students at the speech asked many questions of the Secretary-General, urging him and the United Nations to act to make the the world a safer place.