PRESS BRIEFING BY AMY QUANTRILL, 
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT VOLKAN BOZKIR

United Nations Headquarters, New York

30 November 2020

 

PRESIDENT CALL WITH JAPANESE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

  • On the 25th November, the PGA virtually met with H.E. Mr. Toshimitsu, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.
  • They discussed a range of issues, including the need to halt the spread of #COVID19, the upcoming UNGA special session on COVID-19, UNSC reform, international security and the need for global cooperation.

PRESIDENT MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

  • On Sunday 29th November the PGA released a statement on social media to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. The General Assembly called for the annual observance in resolution 32/40 B in 1977.
  • The PGA will speak at two events on this issue this week. The first virtual meeting is organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on Tuesday, 1 December 2020 at 10 am. The PGA will also speak at the General Assembly plenary meeting, on Wednesday, 2 December at 10 am.

PRESIDENT SPOKE AT THE 13TH SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF STATES PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

  • The theme of this year’s Conference, is “A Decade of Action and Delivery for Inclusive Sustainable Development: Implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Persons with Disabilities.”
  • The PGA encouraged the mainstreaming of disability throughout the United Nations system.

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

  • The PGA launched a website for the special session of the General Assembly in Response to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic on Wednesday.
  • A provisional programme is available on the website. The two-day special session will allow many stakeholders to share their experiences in fighting the pandemic, reflect on the global response to date, and forge a united, coordinated, and people-centered path forward. The first day of the special session on 3 December, consists of an opening segment followed by a general debate. It will focus on the experiences of Member States. The interactive dialogue on 4 December, will entail a series of moderated panels covering key aspects of the impact of, and response to, the COVID-19 pandemic, including the UN system’s health and humanitarian response to date; the road to a COVID-19 vaccine; and the socio-economic impact and recovering better.
  • A provisional list of speakers and a final list of non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions and the private sector accredited to participate in the meeting are also available.
  • A factual summary will be provided following the special session.

VACCINES FOR ALL

  • The PGA launched an initiative called ‘Vaccines for All’ today on social media with a video message. This initiative will last throughout the session.
  • The PGA said: The surest way to end COVID-19 is also the fairest: vaccines for all. The General Assembly can mobilize action across the world. That’s why I’m working with all of our members, the World Health Organization and the entire UN family to address this pandemic. Vaccines are only effective if enough people get them.  We are only as safe as the most vulnerable among us.