HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESS BRIEFING BY BRENDEN VARMA, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MIROSLAV LAJČÁK

United Nations Headquarters, New York

8 March 2018

Today the President addressed the United Nations’ observance of International Women’s Day in the General Assembly Hall.
He noted the progress that has been made – including the laws that are being enacted to protect women. But he also said we’re still not doing enough.
He said, “For every woman who speaks out, there are too many others, forced into silence. For every woman who enjoys her human rights, there are too many others, still fighting for their own. And, for every woman who lives in safety, there are too many others, living in fear.”
The President added, “We need to reinvigorate our focus on gender. And, the United Nations must lead the way.”
In conclusion, he said, “We can no longer call for gender equality, without following our calls with action. We can no longer speak out for women’s rights, without speaking out, even louder, when they are violated. And we can no longer agree that action is needed, without taking it ourselves.”
Later this evening, the President will deliver opening remarks to a special International Women’s Day commemorative event in the Delegates’ Lounge – together with the Secretary-General.
That event is being organized by UN Women and the Permanent Missions of Colombia and Qatar.

The President spoke this morning at a meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission’s Organizational Committee.
He said the Commission was one of the United Nations’ most valuable tools for sustaining peace – and that it was living proof that we can adapt our tools, for stronger peacebuilding and sustaining peace activities on the ground.

The Spokesperson was asked whether the President was aware of the difficult humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and, if so, why he was not speaking out about it. The Spokesperson replied that the President was definitely familiar with developments in Gaza and referred the journalist to the statement that the President had delivered in the General Assembly on the Question of Palestine.
The Spokesperson later added that the President had also said the following about Gaza during his speech on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People: “People throughout the Palestinian territory are, as we speak, in need of concrete support. I want to focus, however, on the Gaza Strip, where the situation is grave. The ongoing blockade has left people wholly dependent on international aid. The rebuilding of critical infrastructure has been hampered. The economy remains weak. Many people are in dire humanitarian need, with women and children living in particularly difficult circumstances. And the Strip is home to more unemployed people than almost any other part of the world.”

Asked why the President of the General Assembly had recently met with the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Spokesperson said that the General Assembly President regularly held monthly meetings with the heads of other organs of the United Nations, including the Secretary-General, the President of the Security Council and the President of ECOSOC.
These meetings were aimed at boosting coordination and coherence across the United Nations system and ensuring that all actors were on the same page.

Asked whether there were any efforts underway by the General Assembly to send an electoral observation mission to Venezuela, the Spokesperson said that the President had not received any letter from the Government of Venezuela requesting such a mission.
A letter would have to received before considering any sort of action by the General Assembly.