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

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Happy International Women’s Day.

The President of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, marked the day by participating in UN Women’s annual event.

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.  The aim is to highlight the pivotal contributions of women and girls in tackling climate change, in strengthening disaster risk reduction, and in building more resilient, more sustainable societies.

In his remarks, President Shahid said that “despite the gender impacts of climate and disasters, women and girls continue to be leaders in each of these areas.” But he noted that their knowledge and contributions are still overlooked, and called on the international community to commit to listen and learn from women and girls to #BreakTheBias.

Last night, President Shahid had an informal interaction with women Ambassadors. He used the opportunity to celebrate women’s leadership at the United Nations.

Later this week, the President will hold a Holhuashi Dialogue focusing on Women, Peace and Security. The Holhuashi Dialogues are consultations with a small group of Member States, held under Chatham House rules.

 

IGN

Turning to the General Assembly Hall… Today is the second day of intergovernmental negotiations on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council.

The Permanent Representatives of Qatar and Denmark are the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations.

 

OBAMA FELLOWS

And looking to tomorrow, President Shahid will host a meeting between the Fellows for HOPE – you met Jaala yesterday, one of the eight fellows – and the Obama Foundation Fellows. The Obama Foundation Fellows are civic innovators – who are working with their communities to create transformational change.

 

QUESTIONS

The Spokesperson was asked about resumption of the 11th Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly. The Spokesperson clarified that the ESS can resume upon written request of Member States. No such request has been received at this time.