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

IMRF

The President of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, this morning opening the plenary of the first International Migration Review Forum.

Among the key messages in his remarks was that the international community reaffirms the relevance of the Global Compact on Migration as the only globally agreed and comprehensive framework to facilitate safe, orderly, regular, and responsible migration. By drawing upon its principles, we can address the challenges faced by migrants and host communities, and save lives and strengthen communities.

The President said quote “Our ability to protect and to integrate migrants is not only a barometer of the health of our institutions – but of the empathy we feel for our fellow human beings.”

His full remarks are at https://www.un.org/pga/76/2022/05/19/the-migration-multi-partner-trust-fund/

The President is chairing the IMRF.

He spoke this morning alongside:

  • Secretary-General António Guterres;
  • António Vitorino, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration and Coordinator of the United Nations Network on Migration;
  • Colin Rajah, Coordinator of the Civil Society Action Committee;
  • Elana Wong, Global Focal Point for the Migration Youth & Children Platform

 

TRUST FUND

Staring at 1PM, President Shahid will take part in an IMRF side-event related to the Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund.

This is the only fund dedicated solely to safe, orderly and regular migration, through strengthened capacities and international cooperation.

In his remarks, President Shahid will call the Trust Fund a “powerful tool to facilitate the implementation of the Global Compact, while also accelerating countries’ progress in meeting the SDG targets.”

 

NATIONAL PLEDGES

All this week, Member States and stakeholders are making commitments to implement the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. As of last night, 154 pledges have been received.

Twenty-five Member States made more than 100 pledges.

Several MS pledged to fund the Migration Multi Partner Trust Fund, while other committed to undertake policy and legal work on migration – this includes ending migration detention of children.

In addition to Member States… the UN System, five different regional and national UN Networks on Migration, ILO, IOM, OHCHR and UNDP made pledges.

The pledges received are displayed on the pledging initiative dashboard on the migration network website.

 

PRESS CONFERENCE

And a note that the guests in tomorrow’s noon briefing will be President Shahid and Director-General Vitorino. They will update you on this week’s events and take your questions. President Shahid will also speak a bit about his Presidency of Hope as it enters its last 100 days.

 

UAE

In the next hour, President Shahid will sign a condolence book at the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates in honor of the late President [SHEH HALIFA BENZAJED ALNAHJAN] Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

A reminder that tomorrow at 9AM, the General Assembly will pay tribute to the late President. This will be held immediately before the start of the third plenary meeting of the International Migration Review Forum.

Also on Friday, the UN Flag will be lowered to half-mast here at the UN Headquarters as a mark of respect for the passing.

 

BILATERALS

In terms of the President’s schedule today…

He will have a bilateral this afternoon with Mr. V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs of India.

President Shahid will also meet with Mr. Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Minister of Immigration and Asylum, of Luxembourg

And he will also receive – a name you will all recognize – Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, in his capacity as the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue

 

HOPE FELLOWS 

And an update on the HOPE Fellows, who are in Switzerland.

They discussed human rights bodies, treaties and mechanisms with Mr. Morse Flores from OHCHR. The Fellows are on a study visit to Europe. This leg of the trip is facilitated by the Government of Switzerland.

 

QUESTIONS

The Spokesperson was asked about President Shahid’s reaction to the situation in Afghanistan.

The Spokesperson responded by email that the President is deeply concerned with the recent restrictions placed on women and the punitive actions announced for any violations. This in addition to the recent denial of education to girls above the sixth grade is deeply alarming.

Such constraints increasingly limit women’s ability to exercise their individual and collective rights. The decision directly contradicts the assurances regarding respect for and protection of all Afghans’ human rights, including those of women and girls.

The inviolability of human rights, which are universal, inalienable and indivisible must be respected.