PRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA VILLELA GRAYLEY, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ABDULLA SHAHID

Good afternoon!

PGA holds inaugural meeting with Advisory Board on Gender Equality

This morning, the PGA held his first meeting with the Advisory Board on Gender Equality.

In his remarks, Mr. Abdulla Shahid shared with all 11 advisers and two observers that gender equality is a cross-cutting priority in his Presidency of Hope. The GA President said that “gender inequality has lingered with us for far too long and it is an embarrassment and moral failure for which we can no longer make excuses”.

Mr. Shahid outlined three points he would like to achieve with the Board’s advice: advancing and mainstreaming gender equality throughout this session and in all its mandates; ensuring gender parity in all panels; and exploring options to enhance the services of the ‘Family Room’ at the UN, as a possible day care service.

The PGA believes that “gender quality is no longer in need of an introduction but rather a conclusion.”

The PGA’s Office will publish a summary of the meeting to Member States on our website later today. The complete list of Advisers and Observers is also available online.

Mr. Shahid releases video message on Decade of Action for Road Safety

Earlier today, the PGA took part in the launch of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.

Each year, at least one million people die because of road traffic accidents worldwide.

The initiative aims at helping to prevent at least 50% of these deaths and injuries by 2030. The event was organized by the World Health Organization, in Geneva.  In his video message, Mr. Abdulla Shahid said that: “It was up to us now to deliver on the resolution’s target: to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by road traffic accidents.”

Next year, the General Assembly will hold a High-Level Meeting on Road Safety. Ahead of this, on 3 December, the PGA will host a one-day supporting event as part of the preparations for the event in 2022.

In 2020, the GA adopted resolution  A/RES/74/299 “Improving global road safety”, endorsing the Stockholm Declaration, which reiterates the invitation to Member States and the international community to intensify national, regional and international collaboration to ensure political commitment and responsibility at the highest possible level for improving road safety.

International Court of Justice presents Annual Report to General Assembly

The PGA spoke this morning at the GA formal plenary meeting for the presentation of the Annual Report by the International Court of Justice, ICJ.

The document was introduced by H.E., Judge Joan E. Donoghue, from the United States, president of the ICJ.

In his remarks, the PGA noted that there are, currently,14 cases submitted to the Court involving States from five continents under topics which range from territorial and maritime disputes, to issues on diplomatic missions and consular offices, to the interpretation and application of international treaties and conventions.

Mr. Shahid believes that the diversity of issues presented before the Court is indicative of the trust that Member States place in it, and it reaffirms the ICJ’s role as an impartial and objective institution in the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

For the PGA, the Court’s judgements affect the development and advancement of international law.

PGA’S Agenda

Mr. Shahid started the day meeting the Advisory Board on Gender Equality, later he presided over the formal plenary on the report of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The PGA attended the meeting on the UN Security Council Reform. This afternoon, Mr. Shahid will receive at his Office, the president of ICJ, Judge Joan Donoghue and hold a separate bilateral meeting on the Resident Coordinator System. This evening the PGA will host a dinner for representatives of the Board of Advisers on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

And this is all for today. I can now take your questions.

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#Deliver4Climate #Deliver4Equality

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