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

ASSEMBLY DECLARES 2 NEW INTERNATIONAL DAYS & VOICES SUPPORT FOR ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

• This morning, the plenary adopted three new draft resolutions by consensus.
• According to a resolution introduced by Bangladesh, the Assembly proclaimed 25 July as World Drowning Prevention Day.
• By a resolution introduced by Qatar, the Assembly declared that the International Day of Women Judges would henceforth be observed every year on 10 March.
• On behalf of CARICOM, Guyana presented a resolution on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. By that resolution, the Assembly expressed solidarity and support to the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as neighbouring countries affected by the eruptions of the La Soufrière Volcano.

RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE MUST BE MANAGED WELL

• This morning the General Assembly plenary held a debate on the impact of rapid technological change on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• In opening remarks, the President said that, while rapid technological change is a good thing, it must be managed well and accessible to all.
• He said technological advancements are a strong and ever-changing tool in our efforts to combat poverty, empower women and girls, and bring peace and stability to those in need.
• But they can only be as smart as the policies that we put in place to harness them.

PRESIDENT MEETS WITH ASSEMBLY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FROM AFGHANISTAN

• This afternoon the President will meet with H.E. Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, the former Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, who is a candidate for President of the 76th session of the General Assembly.
• The election is scheduled for 7 June, and in line with regional rotation, the next President will come from the Asia Pacific Group.
• There are currently two candidates, who have been nominated by Afghanistan and Maldives.
• Both are expected to present vision statements and take part in informal interactive dialogues with the membership on 6 May. Some questions have also already been collected from civil society online.
• A dedicated web page for this election process is housed on our office’s web site. 

PRESIDENT TO CONVENE HIGH-LEVEL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE MEETING TOMORROW

• Tomorrow the President will convene a High-level Interactive Dialogue on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
• AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses and parasites change over time. That can lead to antibiotics and other medicines becoming ineffective – thereby increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
• The opening segment tomorrow will feature statements by the President; the Deputy Secretary-General; the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and Barbados; the Directors-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization and World Organisation for Animal Health; and the Deputy Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.
• There will also be four panel discussions and a closing segment, which will feature interventions from Ministers from Fiji, Germany, Ghana, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the United Kingdom.