Hong Kong, 24 August 2026 — The Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) has appointed Mr Siddharth Chatterjee, former United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, as its Honorary Advisor. The appointment and youth dialogue land at a symbolic moment: 8 September 2026 marked International Literacy Day, and 9 September 2026 is the International Day to Protect Education from Attack—two global reminders of why literacy, access to learning, and the safety of schools remain urgent priorities. Against that backdrop, Chatterjee placed education at the centre of the conversation, with a particular focus on girls' education and entrenched education inequality.
For Chatterjee, the role is not merely institutional—it is deeply personal. At the age of three, he contracted polio, and credits UNICEF-supported immunisation and nutrition rehabilitation programmes with helping him recover. "UNICEF gave me my life back," he said during the event. Nearly three decades of humanitarian and development leadership later—from Somalia and Sudan to Indonesia and other high-pressure postings—he told young participants that every child he has served has reminded him of that three-year-old version of himself.
In a dialogue hosted by UNICEF HK Chair Ms Judy Chen with Young Envoys PLUS alumni and local youth representatives, Chatterjee framed education as both a bridge to human progress and a domain under severe threat. With converging global pressures—climate shocks, health inequality, and widening development gaps—he argued that expanding quality education and empowering young people is more urgent now than at any point in his career. He placed particular emphasis on girls' education, describing education inequality as a systemic challenge that demands stronger governance, leadership, legislation, and a clearer societal recognition that women and men are created equal.
Chatterjee also pointed to Hong Kong's potential role in the global literacy and education agenda. In his view, UNICEF HK has the resources, intellectual capacity and leadership to become a stronger advocate—especially by leveraging the city's networks and financial ecosystem to support literacy efforts with a focus on girls. He called on all sectors to place children's rights, well-being and best interests at the heart of policymaking, positioning Hong Kong to advance its "Child-Friendly City" ambitions.
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