NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS BY PAULINA KUBIAK GREER,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ABDULLA SHAHID
United Nations Headquarters, New York
KAZAKHSTAN
Starting with a trip announcement.
The President of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, will undertake an official visit to Kazakhstan from 11 to 13 August.
The working visit will include meetings with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. As well as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mukhtar Tileuberdi. Among other high-level dignitaries.
President Shahid sees the visit as an opportunity to discuss areas of mutual concern, including recovery from the COVID pandemic, sustainable development, the ongoing climate crisis, and revitalization of the United Nations.
The working visit will include an interaction with students at Nazarbayev University, as well as with representatives of women civil society organizations and the UN Country Team in Kazakhstan.
The trip is at the invitation of the Government. It is being paid for by the Government and the OPGA Trust Fund.
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Today, President Shahid is in Antigua and Barbuda.
He met with the National Youth Parliament Association. This is a body created to give young people in the country a platform from which they can advocate for youth and national issues.
The President had three key field visits focused on sustainability and nature.
He visited the tiny Great Bird Island. Where he saw the endangered “Antiguan racer”, considered one of the rarest snakes in the world. Videos of this encounter are on social media.
President Shahid also toured the Cashew Hill Waterway project site. This gave him an idea of how the local community is adapting to climate change and building resilience to hurricanes and floods. The site also aims to reduce the presence of disease-causing mosquitos.
The third visit was to the Sir Richards Stadium – named after cricket captain Viv Richards. The stadium is taking measures towards sustainable energy. The stadium is expected to house a wind turbine.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
This year’s celebration focuses on the “Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge.”
President Shahid calls indigenous women “the backbone of indigenous peoples’ societies” who play a key role in protecting and promoting traditional knowledge.
“As custodians of traditional knowledge, they play a pivotal role in the sustainable use of natural resources.
By empowering and facilitating the inclusion of indigenous women, we strengthen their communities,” he said.
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