Making the United Nations Relevant to all PeoplePRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA GRAYLEY, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MARÍA FERNANDA ESPINOSA
Good afternoon, everyone! How are you today? Bonjour à tous! To our 19 students of political sciences and international relations of Sciences Po, who are visiting the UN for the first time. Bienvenue, welcome!
IN CEREMONY AT THE GA, MS. ESPINOSA PRAISES RESILIENCE OF RWANDANS
This morning, the President of the General Assembly spoke at the ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa recalled that in just 100 days, starting on 7 April 1994, more than 800,000 Rwandans were brutally killed.
The victims were overwhelmingly Tutsi, but also moderate Hutu, Twa and others were systematically targeted. The PGA pointed out that hundreds and thousands of people were orphaned, widowed, raped, maimed or forcibly displaced.
Ms. Espinosa said that today was a time to mourn and to remember, but also to reflect and learn. For her there can be “no greater lesson – and inspiration – than the resilience of Rwandans, who are an example to us all.”
The ceremony was also attended by the President of Rwanda, H.E Paul Kagame, the Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, the Ambassador of Rwanda to the UN, Ms. Valentine Rugwabiza and the Reverend Marcel Uwineza, a Jesuit priest and a survivor of the 1994 genocide, among others.
Ms. Espinosa said that it is necessary to condemn all forms and manifestations of the denial of genocide, and to redouble “our efforts to fight hate speech and call out those who dehumanize others”.
The Annual Commemoration on the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda is being organized by the Department of Global Communications and the Mission of Rwanda to the UN.
PRESIDENT ESPINOSA HIGHLIGHTS MULTILATERALISM AT EVENT WITH BOSTON UNIVERSITY AND UNCTAD
The PGA started her day in a panel discussion series hosted by Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, in Washington DC.
Ms. Espinosa took part in the event attended by over 100 people, through video conference. She highlighted the crucial role of multilateralism, and the cooperation among countries and other international actors, to tackle rising inequality, climate change, to promote the Sustainable Development Goals, and to advance with an inclusive agenda around the globe.
The PGA took part in the discussions alongside Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz, Professor of Economics and Nobel Prize Winner, and H.E. Miss Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. For more information and the video of the discussions, you can access our YouTube channel: unitednationsga73
The event happens on the margins of the World Bank Spring Meetings.
PGA’S AGENDA AND OTHER ISSUES
And as we speak, Ms. Espinosa is meeting the Special Representative of the SG’s for Colombia, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu. This afternoon, she will hold bilateral meetings with the President of the Human Rights Council, H.E. Coly Seck and grant an interview to Thomson Reuters.
This is all for this week. Do you have anything else?
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