PRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA GRAYLEY, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MARÍA FERNANDA ESPINOSA

Good afternoon, everyone!

Hope you are well today?

AGENDA 2030 –  SPEECH TO THE SECOND COMMITTEE

President María Fernanda Espinosa spoke today to the Second Committee – the Economic and Financial Committee. She congratulated H.E., the Ambassador of Guatemala, Mr. Jorge Skinner-Klée Arenales, on assuming the Presidency. Ms. Espinosa talked about the importance of redoubling efforts to eradicate poverty by 2030, which is the Number 1 Sustainable Development Goal. The President of the General Assembly observed that 738 million people around the world still live in extreme poverty, which means on less than 1 dollar and 90 cents a day. She spoke about climate change, financing for development and decent work, which the President considers a key element to eradicate poverty and to reduce inequality. Ms. Espinosa will convene a High-Level Meeting on Decent Work, the SDG 8, in April here in New York.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF RURAL WOMEN

President Espinosa has tweeted in support of women who live and work in rural areas on the International Day of Rural Women. Ms. Espinosa highlights the fact that rural women represent 25% of the world´s population. She asks for their rights to be promoted and protected in order to build a more sustainable world. The President of the General Assembly said that during her previous work with rural women in the Ecuadorian Amazon Forest, in Senegal and in Niger, she learned a great deal about the decisive role rural women play in building food security, in passing on local knowledge and culture and in helping secure their livelihoods as well as those of others.

PGA’s AGENDA

Today, President María Fernanda Espinosa has separate bilateral meetings with the Ambassadors of Trinidad and Tobago, Monaco, Lebanon and Portugal. She will also receive in her office the Permanent Representative of the Holy See, H.E Archbishop Bernardito Cleopas Auza.

This is all for today. Now the floor is yours…