Making the United Nations Relevant to all PeoplePRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA GRAYLEY, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MARÍA FERNANDA ESPINOSA
Hello everyone, good afternoon! I must start by saying Happy World Press Freedom Day to all media and press professionals here and around the world. I have a travel announcement…
PRESIDENT ESPINOSA TO TRAVEL TO CHAD, NIGERIA AND GHANA
The President of the General Assembly will travel later today to Central and West Africa. Ms. Espinosa will start her official trips in Chad on 4 May, where she will meet the country’s President, Idriss Déby Itno, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and other members of the cabinet. In N’Djamena, Ms. Espinosa will also speak to representatives of the UN and civil society.
After concluding her travel to Chad, the PGA will proceed to Abuja, Nigeria, on 6 May. Ms. Espinosa will be received by Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, members of the government and will talk to students at the University of Abuja on the role of multilateralism and how to respond to global challenges in a fast-changing world. In Nigeria, the PGA will also meet UN officials and participate in a discussion with women on their role in promoting multilateralism.
On 8 May, Ms. Espinosa will arrive to Ghana, her last stop in this official travel to Africa. She will hold meetings with the country’s President, Mr. Nana Akufo-Addo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Speaker of the Parliament, representatives of civil society and UN officials. The PGA will depart from Accra, Ghana’s capital on 11 May, to return to New York.
Whilst in Africa, she will grant interview to national and international media outlets and hold press conferences. Her delegation is composed by her Chef de Cabinet, a senior adviser, a communication specialist, three media professionals and her personal assistant. All travel costs are being covered by the PGA’s Office Trust Fund.
GA PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE VICTIMS OF SRI LANKA TERROR ATTACKS
This morning, Ms. Espinosa has presided over the commemorative event to pay tribute to the victims of the terrorist attacks of Easter Sunday, 21 April, in Sri Lanka.
The meeting was attended by H.E. Rohan Perera, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, the Deputy Secretary General, Ms. Amina Mohammed, and representatives of Member States among others.
The PGA spoke about the horrific attacks against Christian churches and hotels which killed at least 250 people in Sri Lanka and left hundreds of others injured.
Ms. Espinosa said that; “targeting worshippers, families, workers and holidaymakers on a day celebrated by Christians around the world, as well as Sri Lankans of all faiths, was cowardly and despicable.”
The PGA recalled Resolution 73/285 which was adopted by the General Assembly after the attacks “combating terrorism and other acts of violence based on religion or belief”.
She said that the event today was also an opportunity to express “our solidarity with Sri Lanka, first and foremost, but also to strengthen our resolve to combat violent extremism.”
HIGH-QUALITY JOURNALISM IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER, PGA SAYS ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
Today, Ms. Espinosa joins media and press professionals around the world to mark World Press Freedom Day with a call for protection and support for journalists everywhere.
In her remarks in a meeting earlier today, with the presence of permanent representatives to the UN and the President of the UN Correspondents Association, Ms. Valeria Robecco, the PGA explained that she was marking this World Press Freedom Day with a “heavy heart” and mentioned the UNESCO Observatory figures of ninety-nine journalists murdered last year, whilst hundreds were intimidated or imprisoned.
The PGA noted that media space shrinks across the world, as restrictive laws and policies are enacted, and media workers – and their families – are subjected to threats and reprisals. Ms. Espinosa stressed that women are disproportionately affected – contending with sexist abuse and sexual harassment online, as well as physical sexual violence, including rape. Too often, these attacks go unpunished.
Ms. Espinosa concluded her remarks by saying that high-quality journalism and diverse media is needed more than ever at a time when extremism, hate speech and lies spread “like wildfire”. The PGA remembered that journalists hold up a mirror to society and are the ones who tell the stories that need to be told.
More on her remarks on our website www.un.org/pga/73
PGA’S AGENDA
This afternoon, Ms. Espinosa is meeting the co-chairperson of the Global TB Caucus, Mr. Nick Herbert. Early this evening, Ms. Espinosa will fly to Africa for her official trips.
This is all from us for today. Do you have any questions?
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