Contributor(s): Dr Igor Lukšić | Many believe that this is by far the best time in history a human being can be born. Growing life expectancies, ever better medical aid and care for the elderly, IT revolution opens new windows of opportunities. But does the youth globally share this sentiment? Are those under 25 who make up almost half of the world's population happy with what their life has to offer? We have been strong on adopting agendas but not so strong in delivering them. What are we doing wrong? Nowadays, complex challenges such as contemporary and protracted conflicts, dire humanitarian situations, migration/refugee flows, spread of international terrorism and violent extremism are testing our ability to protect the United Nations Charter and ensure effective protection of civilians, especially the most vulnerable. Dr Lukšić will ask how to ensure an effective and efficient UN system to address existing and emerging challenges; what further reforms of the UN system are needed to be fit for purpose in order to have more impact on the ground; what the role and priorities of the next Secretary General should be to make the UN more effective, efficient and relevant; and how to achieve sustainable peace and security, foster development and protect human rights. He will deliver his vision of the 21st Century UN, as he announced, a vision about youth. Igor Lukšić (@I_Luksic) is the candidate of Montenegro for the position of UN Secretary General and outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro. Born in 1976, in Bar, Montenegro where he finished elementary and high school, he graduated in June 1998 from the University of Montenegro, Faculty of Economics in Podgorica, Entrepreneurship department. He obtained a Master’s Degree at the same institution in October 2002 (thesis: Spontaneous Order and Transition) and a Ph.D. in September 2005 (thesis: Transition – Process of Achieving Economic and Political Freedoms). Prior to his current roles he served as Prime Minister from 2010-2012 and Minister of Finance from 2004-2010. Erik Berglof (@ErikBerglof) is the Director of the Institute of Global Affairs at LSE. The Financial Markets Group Research Centre (@FMG_LSE) at LSE is one of the leading centres in Europe for academic research into financial markets. The Institute of Global Affairs (IGA) (@LSEIGA) at LSE creates a dedicated space for research, policy engagement and teaching across multiple disciplines to pioneer locally-rooted responses to global challenges.