{"id":167388,"date":"2018-10-17T16:15:17","date_gmt":"2018-10-17T20:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/73\/?p=167388"},"modified":"2018-10-18T14:43:07","modified_gmt":"2018-10-18T18:43:07","slug":"167388","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/73\/2018\/10\/17\/167388\/","title":{"rendered":"Press briefing by spokesperson \u2013 17 October 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
AFRICA UNION \u2013 UN \u2013 2018 AFRICA DIALOGUE SERIES<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The President of the General Assembly spoke this morning at the African Union \u2013 UN Africa Dialogue Series, which was held in the ECOSOC chamber.<\/p>\n
She observed that an estimated 42% of Africa\u2019s population \u2013 or 400 million people live on less than one dollar and ninety cents per day, but that on the other hand, growth in Africa will accelerate to 4.1% in 2018 and 2019. Economic growth combined with coordinated efforts on sustainable development can serve to raise people out of poverty.<\/p>\n
In the dialogue, the theme of which was \u201cA Stronger AU-UN Partnership for Peace, Security and Development in Africa\u201d, the President said that the Joint Framework for Implementation of Africa\u2019s Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a tool to achieve [an] \u2018harmonized approach\u2019.<\/p>\n
Whilst speaking about peace and security, Ms. Espinosa mentioned the need to continue the empowerment of youth and women to play a more active role. The PGA emphasized that there can be no sustainable development so long as the threat of conflict hangs in the air. \u00a0For her, the empowering of all people to be peacemakers and peacebuilders is very critical. And she finalized by saying that her commitment is with Africa and the African people.<\/p>\n
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ms. Espinosa marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty noting that the persistence of poverty, including extreme poverty, is a major concern for the United Nations. You will remember that last year, the General Assembly launched the Third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018\u20132027), under the theme \u201cAccelerating global actions for a world without poverty\u201d. It is important that the Third Decade\u2019s inter-agency, system-wide plan of action to coordinate the poverty eradication efforts of the United Nations system includes an effective partnership with people living with poverty.<\/p>\n
She also says that as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this year, it is even more important to recall the fundamental connection between extreme poverty and human rights, and that people living in poverty are disproportionately affected by many human rights violations. She said, and I quote: \u201cAs the President of GA, especially the PGA from a developing country, I\u2019m determined to push forward the decade, and work to eradicate poverty.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
GENDER PARITY \u2013 ETHIOPIA<\/strong><\/h3>\n
President Mar\u00eda Fernanda Espinosa congratulated today the Government of Ethiopia which announced a new cabinet with 50% of female ministers.<\/p>\n
Gender equality is one of the seven priorities of Ms. Espinosa\u00b4s Presidency. She firmly believes that women can make a difference in the decision-making progress and that gender equality is crucial to the success of the Agenda 2030. In fact, she has dedicated her Presidency to women and girls.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
AGENDA:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
On the PGA\u2019s agenda today, she is having bilateral meetings with the Ambassadors of Afghanistan, Morocco and China. And in the afternoon, she will be at the GA Hall chairing the meeting on \u201cInternational Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.\u201d<\/p>\n