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

Good afternoon, everyone!

How are you today?

PGA MARKS 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS DECLARATION WITH CHILDREN FROM THE UN CHILDCARE AND PROFESSOR FRANK ROOSEVELT

This morning, the President of the General Assembly, María Fernanda Espinosa, celebrated the 70thanniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with a group of children from the Kindergarten class of the United Nations Childcare Center. In a short ceremony, in front of the Eleanor Roosevelt Monument which is located in the UN Gardens, Ms. Espinosa and the kids recreated the iconic photo of 1950, in which children from the UN International Nursery School, here in New York, were invited to learn about the Declaration.

Ms. Espinosa said and I quote: “If Eleanor Roosevelt and her fellow committee members were here today, they would doubtless be immensely cheered and gratified at the progress that the world has made in the intervening years. Today we have a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, a Human Rights Council, the

International Criminal Court and a global understanding of what constitutes human rights.

Of course, some of the international architecture needs improving and strengthening. We also need to be on our constant guard against those who would abuse universal rights and who would try and set the clock back to darker times.”

The event was attended by Commissioner Penny Abeywardena, from the New York Mayor´s Office for International Affairs, the UN Assistant Secretary-General, Elliot Harris, from the Department for Economic and Social Affairs, and the grandson of Ms. Eleanor Roosevelt, Professor Frank Roosevelt and his wife Grace Roosevelt. The event was moderated by anchorwoman, Cheryl Wills, from New York 1, and will be broadcast on TV tonight at 10 pm.

PGA’s AGENDA

Ms. Espinosa began her day meeting Permanent Representatives at the UN for the “Morning Minga” a monthly dialogue about the work agenda of her Presidency. Today the theme was gender equality. She also took part in the TEDx Place des Nations on Women talk via video conference, as the main event happens in Geneva. Later today, she will receive in separate meetings the Ambassadors of Botswana and Malta, and chair the meeting on the situation in the Middle East, Item 38, at the GA Hall at 3 p.m. This evening, the PGA will speak at the Opening of the Exhibit of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the Visitors Lobby.

This is all from us today. Tomorrow, we will not have any briefing. I am now happy to take your questions.

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