NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS BY PAULINA KUBIAK GREER,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ABDULLA SHAHID
United Nations Headquarters, New York

Good afternoon.

I will start today, then Stephane and today’s guest: World Food Programme’s Michael Dunford, who will discuss the situation in the Horn of Africa.

OUR COMMON AGENDA

Today is the start of the informal consultations on the Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda.

The two-day consultation is being held under the theme “Accelerating and scaling up the Sustainable Development Goals, leaving no-one behind”.

In his opening remarks this morning, President Shahid noted that the recommendations within Our Common Agenda extend across the entirety of the United Nations, touching on every Member State, the entire UN System, the work of civil society and private sector partners, and the public.

The President noted that the consultative process underway is key to delivering on his five priorities or rays of hope – recovering from COVID-19, a sustainable recovery, respecting the rights of all, protecting the planet, and revitalizing the UN.

He called on Member States to go into the consultative process in good faith, with mutual trust and respect, and with the common goal of enhancing our work and bettering the world around us.

Following the completion of all five rounds, the Vice-Presidents will prepare a summary of the relevant thematic consultation, which will constitute the outcome of this process. The five summaries will be shared with all Member States.

The Vice-President chairing this consultation is Kuwait.

The four other consultations will be chaired by Belgium, Dominican Republic, Slovenia, and Tanzania.

VIDEO PODCAST SERIES

Ahead of the consultations, President Shahid had a conversation with Dr. Roberta Bondar, Canada’s first female Astronaut. This is part of a video podcast series that we have underway – and I will tell you more about it soon. But it seems fitting to at least tease it ahead of 11 February, which is the International Day for Women and Girls in Science.

11 FEBRUARY

And speaking of the Day…

Tomorrow morning, President Shahid will convene a meeting of women experts in diplomacy as part of the Holhuashi Dialogues.

These dialogues allow for candid exchange of views on key issues on the agenda of the General Assembly and seek to find solutions and ideas for action.

The Holhuashi dialogues have so far comprised Permanent Representatives participation, but the President felt that it was important to dedicate a session specially to women experts as we lead up to month of March and International Women’s Day.

Also tomorrow, the President will deliver an opening address in the observance of the Day at an event organized by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust, which has a special focus on water.

In the afternoon, President Shahid will have an interactive conversation with scientists from around the world. This is also as part of the event organized by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust.

The President will also have a video message for the Day.

KARNATAKA

And I was asked yesterday for a comment about the situation in the Indian state of Karnataka. We understand that the High Court is now seized of the matter.

QUESTION

There were no questions for the Spokesperson.