NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS BY PAULINA KUBIAK GREER,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ABDULLA SHAHID
United Nations Headquarters, New York
EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION
The General Assembly this morning adopted draft resolution ES-11/L.4.
That draft resolution is entitled ‘Suspension of the rights of membership of the Russian Federation in the Human Rights Council’. It was initiated under agenda item 5 of the Emergency Special Session.
The resolution was co-sponsored by a total of 58 Member States.
The vote was as follows: 93 Member States voted yes; 24 voted no; 58 abstained.
The resolution needed two-thirds majority of those present and voting to be adopted. Abstentions did not count.
Ambassador Kennedy Gastorn, Permanent Representative of Tanzania and a General Assembly Vice-President oversaw today’s session.
RWANDA
Today is the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda.
President of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, took part in the memorial ceremony at UN Headquarters.
He urged the international community to uphold their commitments to stand against racism, hate speech, xenophobia, and all forms of discrimination.
In a video message, President Shahid said that “In solidarity with the people of Rwanda, in memory of the victims, and in respect of the survivors, let us recommit to upholding the principles of human rights, peace and security, and let us continue to reach for the ideal of ‘never again’.”
Full video message text at https://www.un.org/pga/76/2022/04/07/international-day-of-reflection-on-the-1994-genocide-against-tutsi-in-rwanda-kwibuka-28/
QUESTIONS
The Spokesperson was asked what today’s vote means for Russia on the Human Rights Council in the future. The Spokesperson said it is up to Member States to decide. She also suggested contacting Rolando Gomez, Spokesperson of the Human Rights Council.
