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? We will start with a date for your diaries on Monday…
GA TO HOLD HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON CULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The General Assembly will hold a High-level Event on Culture and Sustainable Development. The meeting will take place on the occasion of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, on 21 May.
The event is being organised in partnership with UNESCO.
In a note to Member States, the President of the General Assembly, Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa, said that: “the transformative power of culture for social inclusion, resilience and development is increasingly recognized as a key enabler for Sustainable Development. Culture is an essential component of human development, representing a source of identity, innovation and creativity for all.”
The High-Level meeting, which was mandated by the GA Resolution 72/229 on “Culture and Sustainable Development”, includes thematic debates on the connection between culture and biological diversity, local solutions to climate change and environmental challenges, the role of culture and opportunities for decent work, and how creative industries contribute to development, among other topics.
The event will take place at the Trusteeship Council and be attended by State Ministers and other representatives of Member States, civil society, UN agencies, youth representatives and others.
The PGA will deliver opening and closing remarks. More information and the list of participants you can find on our website: www.un.org/pga/73
GENERAL ASSEMBLY MARKS INTERNATIONAL VESAK DAY
The General Assembly is marking this evening the International Vesak Day, which is considered the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists.
The President of the General Assembly, Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa, will deliver remarks at the commemoration in the GA Hall. The event is being co-organised by the Missions of Sri Lanka and Thailand to the United Nations.
The PGA says that Buddha’s words on wisdom are inspirational as he said that we should not: “simply believe what we hear or are told but seek to experience and learn what is true and real; and to understand that wisdom emerges when the mind is open and objective.”
Ms. Espinosa also says that the UN: “seeks to reflect the peaceful underpinnings of all faiths and philosophies; to promote multilateralism and cooperation across borders; and to promote intercultural and inter-religious dialogue and tolerance.”
In 1999, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 54/115 acknowledging the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia.
PGA’S AGENDA
Ms. Espinosa met the Ambassadors of the Bahamas and Sweden today on the High-Level Political Forum. The PGA will bid farewell to the Ambassador of Uruguay, H.E. Elbio Rosselli and will take part in a luncheon hosted by the Permanent Representatives of China and Russia. This afternoon, Ms. Espinosa will hold separate bilateral meetings with the Ambassadors of Benin, Cabo Verde, Egypt and Zambia, a representative of the World Future Council and will take part in the commemoration of the Day of Vesak at the GA Hall.
This is all from us.
Do you have any questions?
Website:
Twitter:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/unpga
YouTube:
