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

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDORSES GLOBAL COMPACT FOR MIGRATION

This morning, the General Assembly has endorsed the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The document was adopted with 152 votes in favour, with five against and 12 abstentions. As you will recall, the Global Compact was firstly adopted on 10 December in Marrakech, Morocco. Following the vote, 43 countries have taken the floor to make statements on their respective votes.

In her opening remarks, President María Fernanda Espinosa said that the “Global Compact is a useful tool and that its text takes into consideration different perspectives of migration” and that not one single country can resolve challenges alone. Ms. Espinosa also pointed out that yesterday was International Migrants Day and that the endorsement of the Global Compact is the best tribute to approximately 258 million migrants in the world.

(The meeting on “Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related field – Item 14” took place this morning.)

GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST PLASTIC POLLUTION

The PGA´s global campaign against plastic pollution, which was launched on 4 December, is being featured today at the British newspaper the “Daily Mail”. In an opinion piece, Ms. Espinosa affirmed that “plastic pollution is a catastrophe on a scale that’s difficult to grasp.” The PGA however believes that collective, global action is needed to turn the tide against plastic pollution, and therefore invites all to take part in the campaign. The PGA’s campaign is being organised in cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda and Norway. Several activities are being planned in connection with the campaign including a concert in Antigua and Barbuda on 27 April.

PGA’s AGENDA

This afternoon, Ms. Espinosa will continue to chair meetings at the GA Hall and later, she will have in her office a meeting with the Ambassadors of Sweden and Bahamas who are co-facilitators of the High-Level Political Forum event, which has been scheduled for September 2019.

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