New York - The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of many societies in exercising the right to education and revealed the need for more investment in children's social and emotional skills, President Borut Pahor said in a video address of a UN summit on education in New York on Monday.

Welcoming the idea of the Transforming Education Summit, which called for strengthening the education systems that were affected by Covid-19, Pahor said in a pre-recorded video that schools must always promote social justness, solidarity, respect for diversity and human rights.

"The right to education is a human right," Pahor said, calling for more investment in children's social and emotional skills.

"I completely agree that education has an essential role in the 21st century, especially learning to co-exist, developing values and capability to live at peace with yourself, others and with nature. Slovenia is committed to this," Pahor said.

He stressed that the Slovenian education system focused on renovating education for sustainable development.

Pahor is scheduled to meet the presidents of Bolivia and Mongolia, Luis Arce and Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, respectively, and Albert II, prince of Monaco, today and address a high-level event on biodiversity online.

On Wednesday, the president will address the UN General Assembly and take part in several other events until next week. He will also hold several other bilateral meetings to promote Slovenia's candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council in 2024 and 2025.

Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon is also in New York, holding several bilateral meetings to discuss various issues, especially Slovenia's bid for the UN Security Council.

On Monday, she took part in a meeting of EU foreign ministers and held bilateral meetings with her counterparts from Morocco, East Timor, Guyana and Palestine, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, and representatives of the American Jewish Congress.

She also took part in a debate of the World Economic Forum on sustainability, cooperation and peace.