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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

9 December 2020

 

PRESIDENT URGES MEMBER STATES TO INVEST MORE IN PREVENTING GENOCIDE

  • Today is the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.
  • The Day was proclaimed by the General Assembly in 2015.
  • The President delivered remarks to a virtual event this morning, hosted by the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide.
  • He said, “Genocide is not a single event. It is a process that takes time, planning and resources. There are many warning signs along the road to genocide. To prevent this egregious crime, early detection and a prompt response are crucial.” 
  • In that regard, he encouraged Member States to invest more in prevention, including through promoting tolerance and respect for diversity, fighting exclusion and discrimination, countering hate speech, and protecting human rights and the rule of law.

NO COUNTRY IMMUNE TO CORRUPTION, PRESIDENT WARNS ON ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY

  • Today is also International Anti-Corruption Day.
  • In a video message, the President said corruption impoverishes national economies and undermines democratic institutions and the rule of law. No country, region or community is immune.
  • He noted that the General Assembly adopted the first legally binding instrument against corruption, the UN Convention against Corruption, in 2003.
  • He strongly encouraged all Member States to implement this instrument and to participate in the General Assembly’s special session on preventing and fighting corruption, which will be held next year.

SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM TALKS TO CONSIDER REGIONAL REPRESENTATION

  • The President has written to Member States on Security Council reform – to transmit a letter from the Co-Chairs of this process – namely the Permanent Representatives of Poland and Qatar.
  • The first informal meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform has been scheduled for 25-26 January 2021. 
  • The meeting will be held in person, and discussions will be held on regional representation.

PRESIDENT MEETS WITH HEADS OF U.N. AGENCIES & NEW U.K. AMBASSADOR

  • This morning the President met virtually with the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
  • They spoke about the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities, including people on the move. The President said it was essential to respond to their humanitarian needs and thanked the IOM for its leadership and concrete action to leave no one behind.
  • The President is also meeting virtually right now with the Executive Director of UNAIDS – together with the Permanent Representatives of Australia and Namibia, who are the co-facilitators working on the modalities of the General Assembly’s high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS, which will be held in June 2021, and the political declaration that will come out of it.
  • Then at 1:15 p.m. the President will hold an introductory courtesy call with Dame Barbara Woodward, the new Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom.