Making the United Nations Relevant to all PeoplePRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA GRAYLEY, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MARÍA FERNANDA ESPINOSA
Good afternoon, everyone!
I hope you are well today after our day off from the Briefing Room yesterday?
PGA CONGRATULATES FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA
The President of the General Assembly issued a tweet this morning congratulating H.E, Ms. Salome Zurabishvili on her election as the first female Head of State of Georgia. Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa said that she was happy to see another woman taking up a leading role in politics.
The PGA firmly believes that gender balance is key to build a better and fairer world. Ms. Espinosa also declared her intention to invite the next President of Georgia to the High-Level event on “Women in Power”, which is scheduled for 12 March 2019 on the margins of the 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The PGA recalls that only 20 countries have an elected woman Head of State or Government. And globally, only 24 per cent of parliamentarians are women. The President believes that we need to harness the full potential of women’s leadership if we are to tackle today’s global challenges and achieve the ambitious sustainable development goals set by the international community.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
This 29 of November is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. As you know, the UN also marked it in advance yesterday with an event at the Trusteeship Council. In her speech, the PGA noted that “the condition of the Palestinian people remains a scar on our collective conscience and we all have a responsibility to press the urgency of the need for expeditious resolution and the two State solution.” She has called on world leaders, including religious and other leaders, to make the Palestinian question a priority that deserves utmost attention.
Ms. Espinosa believes that with sufficient investment, and with support from UNRWA and other UN and multilateral partners, we can help to empower women and girls; expand access to education; create jobs and livelihoods; and ensure access to affordable healthcare.
PGA’s AGENDA
On the agenda: Ms. Espinosa started her day with a meeting on South-South Cooperation. She also took part in a video conference with the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences, FLACSO. This afternoon, the PGA will have a luncheon with the Friends of Youth, Peace and Security, which is one of her Seven Priorities for the current GA session. In the afternoon at 3 pm., Ms. Espinosa will chair a meeting on “the Question of Palestine”, Item 39; report on the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (A/73/35) and the “situation in the Middle East”, item 38. This meeting will be webcast.
This is all from us today. I am now happy to take your questions.
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