NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS BY PAULINA KUBIAK GREER,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ABDULLA SHAHID
United Nations Headquarters, New York
INDIGENOUS FORUM
Just now, the President of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, addressed the opening of the 21st session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
For the first time in three years, the Forum is being in-person at the United Nations.
In his remarks, President Shahid noted that his personal commitment to implement the mandates related to indigenous persons continues to be unwavering.
Among the topics raised in his address, the President highlighted the importance that indigenous groups play in protecting biodiversity… adding that while indigenous persons comprise less than 5 per cent of the global population, they protect 80 per cent of the world’s biodiversity.
This year also marks the beginning of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, running from 2022 to 2032.
You have the remarks online: https://www.un.org/pga/76/2022/04/25/21st-session-of-the-united-nations-permanent-forum-on-indigenous-issues/
FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
Earlier today… President Shahid, addressed the 2022 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development.
He said that the COVID pandemic has dramatically altered the development trajectory of many countries, particularly the least developed, land-locked developing and small island developing states.
As such, the President noted that he re-constituted the Board of Advisers on Least Developed Countries, Land-locked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (LLS).
The President highlighted a few suggestions from the Board of Advisers.
These include short-term response measures to address inflation, vaccine inequity and gender gaps. Prioritizing debt sustainability, restructuring and transparency. And the full implementation of commitments in agreed-to multilateral frameworks, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the Paris Agreement, and COVAX.
You can find this speech on the website: https://www.un.org/pga/76/2022/04/25/2022-ecosoc-forum-on-financing-for-development/
UNCTAD ECCOMERCE
Turning to the UNCTAD eCommerce Week.
President Shahid addressed the forum this morning. He said that siloed and fragmented hallmarks of digitalization have generated new risks and challenges.
This became most apparent during the COVID pandemic. When remote education, remote work, and remote access to goods and services, was available to some – but not all.
The President also spoke about online abuse and disinformation.
He said as more people go online, these challenges will multiply. And there will be more opportunities to threat human rights and values, and jeopardize economic development.
The President supported developing digital governance systems. He said the United Nations offers the most universal platform for Member States to engage on.
His full remarks will be online.
RAISINA DIALOGUE
Also today…
President Shahid addressed the Raisina Dialogue. This is India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, organized by the Observer Research Foundation and the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
The President’s address was on the ‘Role of the UN in a Polarizing World’.
One of the points that the President made is that the UN needs to move closer to the people it serves.
In a video message, he urged the UN to speak directly with communities and community leaders, and to listen to young people.
And to ensure that voices and ideas from outside of the UN – such as academics, scientists, and innovators – are acknowledged and heard in debates.
The President does this in practice. He has made a point to engage with young people when traveling and ensures that there are representatives from a wide range of stakeholders at his debates.
BILATERALS
In terms of who the President is meeting with today.
He met Mr. Mohammad Ziauddin, Ambassador-at-Large of the Honorable Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh. They discussed the High-level Meeting on Financing for Peacebuilding, which will take place this Wednesday. And the need for predictable, adequate and sustained financing.
President Shahid had a bilateral today with Ambassador Menissa Marcelle Rambally, Permanent Representative of St. Lucia.
Later today, the President is meeting with Ambassador Léon Kacou Adom, Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire. This is in the context of the President’s upcoming visit to Cote d’Ivoire. I will share more details about this visit next week.
President Shahid will also meet today with Ambassador Michal Mlynár, Permanent Representative of Slovakia. Topics of discussion will include Thursday’s High-level meeting on the New Urban Agenda.
PODCAST DISCUSSION WITH WOMEN AND GIRLS IN ICT
And ahead of Thursday’s International Girls in ICT Day, President Shahid is recording a special edition of his video podcast called “In conversation with…”
He will speak today with Professor Lilac Ahmad Alsafadi. She is the President of the Saudi Electronic University and a Professor of Computer and Information Sciences at King Saud University – specializing in data science and artificial intelligence.
The episode should be out later this week.
QUESTIONS
The Spokesperson was asked about tomorrow’s action on the draft resolution, “Standing mandate for a General Assembly debate when a veto is case in the Security Council.” The questions were about the timing of the vote, the percentage needed to pass the draft, and speaking order.
The Spokesperson said that this is the third item on the agenda https://journal.un.org/en/new-york/meeting/officials/39e68cb2-2fc1-4c00-b0ca-08da24622dd1/2022-04-26
In terms of how the action on the draft will unfold, the Spokesperson said that OPGA is working closely with the Secretariat (Office of Legal Affairs and the General Assembly Affairs Branch) on Article 18 of the UN Charter. [As of the time that this note is being sent, the Spokesperson can confirm that President Shahid will ask the plenary if there is an objection to adopting the draft resolution by a simple majority based on Article 18, paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Charter.]
Liechtenstein will then introduce the resolution.
Member States may choose to do Explanations of Vote before the vote.
Action will then be taken on the draft (either by recorded vote or by consensus).
Member States may then choose to do Explanations of Vote after the vote and other general statements.
