Inequalities exposed by coronavirus and racism have world at ‘breaking point’: U.N. Secretary-General

The coronavirus pandemic and racial tensions have unveiled the damage done by global inequality that has the world at a “breaking point,” the top United Nations official said Saturday. “Nelson Mandela rose above his jailers to liberate millions of South Africans and become a global inspiration and a modern icon,” said U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, delivering the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, which commemorates the birthday of the anti-apartheid activist, who was jailed for 27 years for his social justice work and then went on to become president of South Africa. The current health crisis gripping the world is illustrating that threat perfectly, Guterres said.