United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that greater efforts are needed to protect human rights internationally because the world still has a long way to go before respect for human rights is truly universal.

Speaking at a high-level event marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Guterres said many people around the world still suffer from abuse of their rights.

He said gender inequality is one of the greatest human rights challenges people face, while refugees and migrants, people who do not conform to gender norms, and minorities of all kinds, are frequently targeted for denial and abuse of their rights.

The UN chief particularly called on young generations to take their part in fighting for human rights.

On Monday, he launched Youth2030: The United Nations Strategy on Youth, which will guide the UN system in stepping up support for the empowerment of young people, while ensuring that the organization's work fully benefits from their insights and ideas.

"I urge young people to make this space your home, to bring your energy and passion here, to challenge our ways of doing things and to take up the torch for our common humanity," said Guterres.