Making the United Nations Relevant to all PeoplePRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA GRAYLEY, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MARÍA FERNANDA ESPINOSA
Good afternoon, everyone!
IN LONDON, PGA SPEAKS ABOUT EMPOWERMENT OF YOUTH AT 175th ANNIVERSARY OF YMCA
The President of the General Assembly spoke at the opening ceremony to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the YMCA.
In her remarks to an audience of about five-thousand young people, Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa commended the participants for their work throughout the history of YMCA to promote social justice, peace and make equality a reality to all.
The PGA said that with a membership of 65 million people in the world, YMCA is an influential global player and should not underestimate its collective power as activists, as citizens and as consumers.
Ms. Espinosa stressed that more must be done to leave no one behind. Today, 600 million young people – a third of the total youth population – live in fragile and conflict-affected states.
Young people make up a third of those unemployed globally, and fifteen million girls give birth each year, often due to barriers in accessing information and health services.
The number of young people living with disabilities is between 90 million and 150 million. Many of them face severe social and economic disparities, in poor and rich countries.
The PGA said that the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda are a blueprint for achieving a better world for all, and that young people are crucial to make it happen.
Ms. Espinosa reaffirmed her resolve to include youth as equal interlocutors in the decision-making processes, noting the importance integrating national youth policies into broader development plans, and boosting funding for youth programmes.
Before delivering her opening remarks, Ms. Espinosa held bilateral meetings with the YMCA Secretary-General, Mr. Carlos Sanvee, and the President, Ms. Patricia Pelton.
After speaking at the ceremony, she was received at Central Hall Westminster, where the GA held its first meetings in 1946. Ms. Espinosa is also granting interviews to national and international media outlets. Tomorrow, she will travel to Buckinghamshire.
More details on our website www.un.org/pga/73 and on Ms. Espinosa’s Twitter account @UN_PGA
PRESIDENT ESPINOSA SENDS CONDOLENCES TO THE USA AFTER MASS SHOOTINGS
The GA President issued a tweet yesterday condemning the attacks which took place in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton in the US state of Ohio, which killed dozens of people and left many others injured.
In her official account, Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa expressed shock to hear the news about both shootings which happened within 24 hours.
The PGA said that it was terribly disturbing to learn that hate speech might have been the motive for one of the attacks.
She sent her deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families, to the people and the Government of the USA and wished all injured victims, a speedy recovery.
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