Making the United Nations Relevant to all PeoplePRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA GRAYLEY, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MARÍA FERNANDA ESPINOSA
Good afternoon, everyone!
GA ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
The General Assembly has adopted a draft resolution on the modalities of the high-level event on the occasion of the Thirtieth Anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The document was adopted without a vote.
The meeting will take place on 25 September during the high-level week on the next session of the GA.
UN Messenger of Peace, Malala Yousafzai, is expected to take part in the event as well as other guests.
The resolution also commits to convening a high-level plenary meeting at the GA Hall on 20 November 2019 to mark the actual anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which will be facilitated by UNICEF “with meaningful participation of children”.
The PGA is grateful to the work of the Ambassador of Bulgaria, H.E Mr. Georgi Velikov Panayotov, and the Permanent Representative of Pakistan H.E. Ms. Maleeha Lodhi “for their tireless efforts in bringing the consultations to a successful conclusion”, which have led to the adoption of the resolution.
MS. ESPINOSA REITERATES CALL FOR PROTECTION ON WORLD REFUGEE DAY
The President of the General Assembly is marking World Refugee Day reiterating her call for more collective work in order to ensure protection for refugees. In a tweet, Ms. Espinosa said that; “refugees endure long, dangerous and difficult journeys collectively amounting to 1 billion miles to reach the nearest point of safety”.
The PGA believes that refugees need the world to engage in more cooperation to help them rebuild their lives and end the crisis.
The latest figures released by UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) indicate that more than 70 million people were displaced in the world in 2018.
This year, the agency is challenging people on its social media channels to walk, run, dance, swim 1 km or 1 mile or take any step with refugees and to post their images online.
PGA TO ARRIVE IN PORTUGAL ON FRIDAY FOR OFFICIAL VISIT
Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa will arrive tomorrow in Lisbon, Portugal for an official visit.
The PGA will speak at the opening of the “World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth 2019 and Youth Forum – Lisboa + 21”, which will take place this weekend in Lisbon, the country’s capital.
Ms. Espinosa will highlight the great contribution young people are bringing to implement the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development and one of her seven priorities; “Youth, Peace and Security”.
In Lisbon, the PGA will hold bilateral meetings with the Foreign Minister, H.E, Mr. Augusto Santos Silva, and other members of the Government of Portugal. She will also meet representatives of civil society and young people, and speak to national and international media outlets.
Ms. Espinosa will discuss issues such as the strengthening of multilateralism, refugees, climate action and ocean issues, including her global campaign against plastic pollution.
Earlier today, the PGA concluded her official trip to China with a visit to China’s Disabled Person’s Federation, where she met Ms. Haidi Zhang the chairperson of the institution and founder of the first Rehabilitation University for people with disabilities.
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