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Hong Kong, 6 May 2026 – Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) welcomed Mr Siddharth Chatterjee, former UN Resident Coordinator in China, for an insightful sharing session on 20 April.

Drawing from nearly three decades of service in some of the world’s most complex environments, including Indonesia, Sudan, and Somalia, Mr Chatterjee shared his experiences addressing immediate humanitarian crises alongside long-term developmental challenges, offering the UNICEF HK team a deeper understanding of the realities facing children globally.

During the session, Mr Chatterjee reflected on a personal connection to UNICEF that dates back to his childhood. He recounted contracting polio at the age of three and subsequently benefiting from the organization’s immunization programmes, noting UNICEF's pivotal role in the global eradication of the disease. He also highlighted the support he received through UNICEF’s nutrition programmes, which provided essential supplements to improve his diet, further recognizing the organization’s life-changing impact.

Turning to the present, Mr Chatterjee identified a cascade of "interlocking crises", from health inequality and the climate crisis to food insecurity and the erosion of human capital, that pose existential threats to current and future generations. He called for a fundamental change in development, urging organizations, governments, civil society, and local communities to focus on progress that enables individuals to deploy their own skills and capacity for action, rather than relying solely on charity. Mr Chatterjee also affirmed the vital role that UNICEF HK plays in mobilizing public support and advancing children’s rights in Hong Kong and beyond. 

The exchange provided the UNICEF HK team with a broader global perspective on the humanitarian challenges and children’s rights issues at stake. UNICEF HK remains committed to working with all stakeholders to respond to the needs of children around the world, safeguarding the welfare and future of every child.

UNICEF HK Chairman Judy Chen (left) welcomed Mr Siddharth Chatterjee, former UN Resident Coordinator in China (right), to the UNICEF HK office. 

With nearly three decades of service in the United Nations, Mr Chatterjee shared insights from a career spanning the world’s most complex humanitarian landscapes.

Mr Chatterjee’s sharing provided the UNICEF HK team with a broader global perspective on the humanitarian challenges and children’s rights issues at stake.