PRESS BRIEFING BY BRENDEN VARMA, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT VOLKAN BOZKIR

PRESIDENT CALLS FOR ACTION ON GENDER EQUALITY AT HISTORIC “BEIJING+25” MEETING

• The high-level meeting on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women– or “Beijing+25” – is being held today. The theme is “Accelerating the realization of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.” 
• In his opening remarks, the President said, “When will we reach full gender equality? In 2030? On the fiftieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference for Women? On the centenary of the United Nations? Why wait? Let us take action today, to ensure equality tomorrow. It is up to you. It is up to all of us.”
• During today’s event, Member States and other leaders are expected to present urgent measurable actions they will take to address issues such as women’s poverty, violence against women, girls’ education, equal participation of women in the labour market and the impact of environmental degradation and climate change on women and girls.
• In the plenary segment, according to the current list, there are 149 high-level speakers inscribed. Of those, 86 — or 58% — are women.
• Asked about outcomes and expectations for Beijing+25, the Spokesperson said the President’s office would circulate a chair’s summary around 1 November. He also advised the journalist to look at individual statements by Member States as announcements of new initiatives were expected. He added that today was one part of the overall conversation – with the idea being to promote the need to double down on action in our everyday lives.
• Asked what announcements were expected from Member States, the Spokesperson said it was his role to speak for the President – as opposed to individual Member States. He therefore urged the journalist to pay attention to the statements made by the Member States themselves.

HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON ELIMINATING NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO BE HELD TOMORROW

• Tomorrow, the President will convene the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
• The opening segment will start at 10:00 a.m. and feature speeches by the President and the Secretary-General.
• The President is expected to express his commitment to engage with Member States, to discuss the best way to move forward, in our common endeavors to achieve a nuclear-weapon free world.
• Right after the opening, there will be a plenary segment. Eighty-six high-level speakers are currently inscribed. The list of speakers is available here.

BIODIVERSITY SUMMIT HEARS FROM 135 COUNTRIES, PRESIDENT CALLS FOR “GREEN RESET”

• The UN’s first ever Summit on Biodiversity wrapped up last night at 9:15 p.m. Despite the two spillover sessions, not all statements were able to be heard. The President’s office is therefore working with the Secretariat to make sure the outstanding statements can be showcased.
• In all, 135 statements from Member States were heard in the General Assembly Hall.
• In his closing remarks, the President said that, despite the severe hardships it has imposed, COVID-19 presents us with a unique opportunity for a ‘green reset’.
• He also said we must undertake whole-of-society responses to protecting biodiversity.
• This means engaging all stakeholders, through intergenerational coalitions and youth leadership, and bringing sustainability into business models.

PRESIDENT HELD PRESS CONFERENCE ON 15 SEPTEMBER

• Asked whether the President would be holding a press conference, the Spokesperson noted that the President had already held one on 15 September.
• Responding to further questions, the Spokesperson said that no additional press conferences were currently planned for the immediate future, but the President would hold one again when he had new messages to share.