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

Good afternoon, everyone…

How are you today?

PRESIDENT ESPINOSA TO BRIEF MEMBER STATES ON TUESDAY

The President of the General Assembly, Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa, will brief Member States tomorrow on the work of the GA since she took office in September, as well as on the activities and high-level meetings planned for the upcoming months. One of these meetings is the WomenInPower High-Level Event. An invitation is being sent to all female Heads of State and Government for the 12 March. With the support of the international leaders the PGA intends to promote more participation of women in decision-making processes and in politics. We will brief you with more details nearer the time.

 PGA’S AGENDA AND OTHER ISSUES

This morning, Ms. Espinosa had her monthly meeting with the Secretary-General, António Guterres. They spoke about several issues including the implementation of the UN reform, which began on 1 January. Ms. Espinosa and Mr. Guterres also talked about joint efforts to promote gender equality.  The PGA received in her office the Ambassador of Belize, Her Excellency Ms. Lois Michele Young. She later had a bilateral meeting the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.  Tomorrow at 11 a.m. there will be a handover ceremony of the G-77 + China which Ms. Espinosa will attend. Later today, the PGA will grant interviews to the Dawn Newspaper and The National newspaper on her upcoming visit to Pakistan.

PGA’S NEW YEAR STAKEOUT ON WEDNESDAY AT 1 PM.

President Espinosa will have a stakeout next week on Wednesday, 16 January at 1 pm. in front of the PGA’s Office. We would like to invite all of you for this interaction with the PGA before she leaves for Pakistan. She is looking forward to answering your questions on the work of the General Assembly for the next months and any other issues you would like to address in regard with her Presidency.

This is everything we have for today. Now I am happy to take your questions.

Video: https://bit.ly/2FspWSb

Website: https://www.un.org/pga/73/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/UN_PGA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unpga

YouTube: https://bit.ly/2S7Wl3q