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

 

RWANDA

Starting with a travel announcement.

The President of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, will travel to Rwanda at the invitation of the Government from this Thursday, 23 June until 25 June. The visit coincides with the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

President Shahid will participate in the Commonwealth Business Forum 2022, which is held this year on the theme of “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming.”

He will also take part in a high-level event entitled “Keeping 1.5 Alive”, a reference to the crucial 1.5 degrees Celsius climate target. The event is co-hosted by the Governments of Rwanda and the UK, and the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26).

The President of the General Assembly is expected to meet with President Paul Kagame.

He will also participate in a high-level event on ending violence against women, hosted by the First Lady of Rwanda, Jeannette Kagame.

President Shahid will also engage with young civil society leaders at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

Costs for this visit are covered by the OPGA Trust Fund.

You will have a detailed media advisory.

Ahead of this visit, President Shahid is meeting today with Ambassador Claver Gatete, Permanent Representative of Rwanda.

 

HATE SPEECH

Turning to today’s work of the General Assembly… The Assembly today met in a high-level meeting to commemorate the first International Day for Countering Hate Speech. The Day is officially marked on 18 June.

In his opening remarks, President Shahid said that hate speech has the power to upend the safety and quality of life of individuals and entire communities.

He called for a comprehensive response. Quote “We must cultivate our global cooperation and stand united – embracing the collective spirit that this great institution was designed to foster, and that Hate Speech seeks to undermine.”

The full speech is online: https://www.un.org/pga/76/2022/06/20/remarks-at-the-informal-high-level-meeting-of-the-general-assembly-on-countering-hate-speech/

 

WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY

Just a short time ago, the General Assembly adopted a resolution tabled by the Maldives proclaiming 24 June as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.

The resolution was co-sponsored by 191 States, which is a record for this session.

The idea of having a special day celebrating women in diplomacy was an outcome of the Holhuashi Dialogues… following a discussion that President Shahid had with women experts.

This is an issue that President Shahid has championed since taking his term… pushing from gender balance in his own Cabinet, on UN panels, and by striving to meet with women and civil society groups representing women, during his official travels.

The President’s remarks at the adoption are available at https://www.un.org/pga/76/2022/06/20/celebrating-the-adoption-of-the-international-day-of-women-in-diplomacy/

 

WORLD REFUGEE DAY

Today is World Refugee Day.

In his video message, President Shahid we uphold that regardless of who they are, where they are, or when they were forced to flee, all refugees have certain rights.

The right to seek safe passage and asylum; to humane treatment; to not be discriminated against; and to not be returned to the destination they fled.

The full message is online: https://twitter.com/UN_PGA/status/1538717271023140865

 

QUESTIONS

The Spokesperson was asked if, during his visit to Rwanda, President Shahid will raise the issue of the UK forcing back asylum seekers. The Spokesperson said that President Shahid will raise any issues of mutual concern during his meetings in Kigali.