NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS
Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Friday, 28 October 2022

GENDER CHAMPION

President Csaba Kőrösi is an International Gender Champion.

He officially joined the network last night.

Champions sign a Panel Parity Pledge and undertake two S.M.A. R.T commitments per year to advance gender equality in their organization or programmatic work.

President Kőrösi pledged to re-establish an Advisory Board on Gender Equality to promote gender mainstreaming in the work of the UN General Assembly… and to strengthen the UN community’s commitment to gender equality and the prevention of sexual harassment through training and other activities.

The President has said quote: “Today’s complex crises have set back hard-won gains to achieving gender equality. As President of the General Assembly, I will work with my Advisory Board to provide results-oriented recommendations for mainstreaming a gender perspective throughout the priorities of my Presidency: crisis management and transformation.”

The International Gender Champions is a leadership network that brings together female and male decision-makers determined to break down gender barriers and make gender equality a working reality in their spheres of influence. The initiative was co-founded by former UN Geneva Director-General Michael Møller in 2015.

Last night’s reception will also launched the “I Say No to Sexism” campaign in New York.

MORNING DIALOGUE

This morning, President Kőrösi met with a small group of Ambassadors to discuss crisis management. He posed questions such as – how can we build more trust among Member States? How can we avoid business as usual?

This discussion took place under Chatham House rules as part of the PGA’s Morning Dialogue series.

There was an invited speaker –Sarah Cliffe, who is the Executive Director of New York University’s Center on International Cooperation.

GENERAL COMMITTEE

President Kőrösi then convened the General Committee of the General Assembly. This was the Committee’s first informal meeting of the 77th session.

President Kőrösi recently appointed 27 co-facilitators and co-chairs for 14 mandated processes. At least 13 of which are linked to a kind of transformation.

In his remarks today, he urged that the co-facilitators and co-chairs to consider what needs to be changed, how to change it and how to bring support, so that the outcomes are ambitious.

Some of the ideas that emerged were – for example, strategically clustering negotiation processes, such as similar ones on health, and to streamline the 178 items on the GA’s agenda this session, and give more space for discussions.

In his closing comments, the President said the common understanding that he hears is that the General Assembly is in the process of becoming more relevant. The work aims to be more focused.

Today’s meeting was open to all Member States.

JCC STATEMENT

I wanted to read into record the statement from President Kőrösi on General Assembly adoption yesterday of a revision to the budget.

The President of the General Assembly welcomes today’s adoption by the General Assembly of a resolution entitled “Revised estimates on United Nations activities to mitigate global food insecurity and its humanitarian impact”.

The resolution ensures the funding to the UN Joint Coordination Center that supports the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

This is an example of the importance of international cooperation to address our common challenges in crisis times. Today’s decision of the General Assembly is proof of the urgency which Member States ascribe to the issue of global food security.

The decision is also an example of the solidarity envisioned in the United Nations Charter. One that is in line with the President’s motto for the 77th session of solutions through solidarity, sustainability and science.

JCC FUNDING

I’ve been asked how the funds will be utilized. Our colleagues informed that the amount of funds dedicated to the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is approximately 2.6 million US dollars.

These funds are going to support the UN’s work at the Joint Coordination Centre, which includes moderation of the daily JCC meetings, mediation efforts and secretariat support, operations and seven-day watchkeeping functions in support of safe navigation in the maritime humanitarian corridor, public reporting and data management, media and communications support, and the provision of five UN inspection teams on a daily basis as part of the joint inspection teams.

I will pass along the link to the SG’s report on the budget, which has more details: N2258056.pdf

BILATERALS

Turning to the President’s bilaterals today.

He just met with Mr. Peter Szijjarto, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary.

This afternoon, President Kőrösi will be meeting with the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake.

As well as with Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director of the UNWTO, the UN’s tourism organization.

THIRD COMMITTEE

Special Rapporteurs and Experts are briefing the Third Committee today.

• Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Mr. Balakrishnan RAJAGOPAL
• Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Mr. Michael FAKHRI
• Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Mr. Olivier DE SCHUTTER
• Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Mr. Clement Nyaletsossi VOULE
• Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, Ms. Alice CRUZ
• Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Mr. Victor MADRIGAL-BORLOZ

NEXT WEEK

Monday, 31 October, the General Assembly will hold a debate on the report of the International Criminal Court.

At 3pm on Monday, the General Assembly will consider a recommendation from the Fifth Committee, related to UNAMA’s budget.

On Tuesday, 1 November, the General Assembly will debate the Human Rights Council’s report.

On Wednesday and Thursday, so 2 and 3 November, will be the annual debate on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba. Action on a draft resolution is expected on Thursday.

Friday, 4 November will the election of members of the International Court of Justice. As you know this is one of the elections that takes place simultaneously but separately in the GA and in the Security Council. The bodies will elect a candidate for the remainder of the nine-year term of office held by Judge Antonio Cancado Trindade, who died in May of this year.

QUESTIONS

The Spokesperson was asked what was discussed during yesterday’s bilateral between the PGA and the IAEA representative. The Spokesperson said the discussions focused on Ukraine, as well as IAEA’s contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals. The Spokesperson was asked for a further readout.