Making the United Nations Relevant to all PeoplePRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA GRAYLEY, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MARÍA FERNANDA ESPINOSA
Good afternoon, everyone!
Today, we will say hello to a group of interns of interpretation at DGACM, who will be with the UN for a few months and, of course, helping with the upcoming GA.
I must say hello or bonjour to Maurin Picard from Le Figaro, who is with us today. Welcome!
ON INTERNATIONAL DAY, PGA PAYS TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS OF ACTS OF TERRORISM
The President of the General Assembly is marking the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism.
The PGA expresses her solidarity with all survivors and her sympathy to the families of those who perished by atrocious acts of terrorism in the world.
This year, the second International Day of Remembrance of, and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism (A/RES/72/165) focuses on the resilience of victims and their families.
In her Twitter account, Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa recalled her encounter in Chad with Halima, a survivor of terrorism at the age of 15, who refused to become a suicide bomber. After being captured and released, she became a paralegal and works today as a gender activist.
The PGA said that she felt inspired by Halima, who was a true example of resilience and strength to the world.
As a paralegal, Halima has helped hundreds of women and girls to escape extremism and terrorism by her work with educational activities and to combat gender-based violence.
President Espinosa believes that more must be done to tackle terrorism and to support victims of acts of terror as they try to recover from violence and trauma and to rebuild their lives.
The PGA met Halima during a visit to Lake Chad which she undertook in May.
More information on our website: www.un.org/pga/73
MS. ESPINOSA WELCOMES DECISION OF SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BOTTLES
The GA President has congratulated the administration of San Francisco International Airport on the decision to ban plastic bottles from its premises.
Since yesterday, 20 August, the airport is phasing out plastic bottles in a drive to become the first zero-waste airport by 2021.
Passengers are encouraged to bring their own recyclable aluminum bottles or to consume water from the water fountains and the hydration stations.
The PGA said that initiatives such as this help to promote climate action and to tackle climate change.
She said she was encouraged by all individuals and institutions who are doing their part in order to foster a greener and sustainable world for all.
On 1 June, Ms. Espinosa launched together with the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda and Norway, the St. John’s Declaration as part of her global campaign against plastic pollution to eliminate single-use plastics from our daily lives and to promote environmental action around the world.
GA PRESIDENT EXPRESSES CONCERN WITH FOREST FIRES IN THE WORLD
The PGA issued a tweet expressing concern with recent forest fires, which are taking place in Northern and the Southern Hemispheres.
Ms. Espinosa said that forests are crucial to tackle climate change, to foster biodiversity conservation and food security.
She stressed that the world must do more to protect its forests and to take urgent climate action in order to promote a sustainable environment.
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