File Photo: A child of a street bagger family eats gifted food on the World Food Day in the eastern Indian state Orissa's capital city Bhubaneswar, Oct. 16, 2014. (Xinhua/Stringer)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday deplored the fact that the world is letting children down by allowing them to go through hardships and suffering.

"I am sorry to say that, try as we might, we adults are letting you down," he told a gathering of children at UN headquarters in New York on the occasion of World Children's Day, which falls on Nov. 20.

"Millions of girls and boys like you are in danger, and we are letting them down. They are fleeing deadly conflicts. They are going hungry, or without the medicine they need. They are separated from their parents, or making long, dangerous journeys to safety. They are displaced and living in refugee camps far from home."

"All this is completely unacceptable. As a global community, we cannot continue failing all the children," said Guterres.

Every child has a right to a safe, healthy, peaceful childhood and to develop to their full potential, he said. "Today's children are tomorrow's leaders -- tomorrow's presidents and prime ministers, tomorrow's teachers and innovators, tomorrow's mothers and fathers, even tomorrow's secretaries-general of the United Nations."

He promised to "spare no effort to make sure that the United Nations is working every day, every hour, every minute" for children's best interests.

"The future of the world is in children's hands. But we can never forget that children's futures are in our hands. There is no greater responsibility, no more important job, and no better pathway to a better, healthier, more peaceful world for every person, every family, and every child."