46th Plenary Meeting: Reports of the Third Committee (Opening)

 

Members of the Bureau of the Third Committee,

 

Excellencies,

 

Distinguished delegates,

 

I thank Her Excellency Ambassador Bogyay for her leadership, and members of the Bureau for their steadfast stewardship throughout the Main Session.

 

I thank all delegates for your tireless work over the past seven weeks, and your enduring commitment to human rights, and social and humanitarian issues.

 

You have exemplified the very best of diplomacy and in doing so ensured a strong, functional General Assembly which seeks to fulfil the aspirations of humanity.

 

Excellencies,

 

Distinguished delegates,

 

The Third Committee successfully adapted its working methods during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that the General Assembly remains a forum for the intercultural exchange of perspectives and ideas shaped by our lived experiences, in pursuit of a better world.

 

Despite the challenging working conditions in the time of COVID-19, it is most impressive that the Committee ensured business continuity. You held 15 in-person meetings and 29 virtual meetings, including more than 75 hours of interactive dialogue with 64 special procedure mandate holders and 15 UN representatives, and considered more than 100 reports.

 

I am pleased to note that of the 50 draft resolutions adopted by the Third Committee, most (31) were adopted by consensus.

 

I commend delegations for the ‘Inclusive Development for and with Persons with Disabilities’ resolution which urges non-discrimination, accessibility, and inclusion in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. In the Decade of Delivery to implement sustainable development – which has now become the ‘decade of recovery’ – the implementation of this resolution is critical to ensuring that we leave no one behind.

 

In some instances, technical rollovers were necessary to facilitate the Committee to take urgent action pertaining to the coronavirus disease.

 

In particular, I welcome the resolutions which place women and girls at the centre of the COVID-19 response, highlight the essential role of women and girls in pandemic responses, and call for gender-responsive policies and measures to end gender-based discrimination.

 

As an International Gender Champion I am proud that the Third Committee prioritised the needs and rights of women and girls in the 75th session of the General Assembly. I look forward to informing the newly established Gender Advisory Group of these developments.

Excellencies,

 

Distinguished delegates,

 

As we contend with the greatest challenge in the 75-year history of the United Nations, the work of the Third Committee is more important than ever before. For the COVID-19 pandemic is not just a health crisis. It is a human rights crisis.

 

2020 was the year we sought to create the UN we need for the future we want. Thanks to you, we are one step closer to the realisation of a better world for all of us.

 

I thank you.