NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS
Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Wednesday, 2 November 2022
GENDER EQUALITY
Happening this hour.
President Csaba Kőrösi is holding the first meeting of the Advisory Board on Gender Equality.
The President re-established the Advisory Board to help mainstream gender throughout the priorities and processes of the 77th session.
The Board includes representatives of Member States, the UN system and other stakeholders.
The President is expected to tell that Board that all the crisis we face impact women and girls, and the solutions need to include women and girls… From the lingering impacts of COVID-19, to climate change, and building trust.
Now is the time to take a leap in gender mainstreaming in the General Assembly, the President is expected to say.
You will have the remarks, once delivered.
US EMBARGO
The General Assembly this morning is considering agenda item 36 entitled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”.
You have the speakers list: https://espeakers.unmeetings.org/63580636a574d60012a9512525102022 .
The debate is expected to wrap up tomorrow in the morning session.
Member States are then expected to take action on a draft resolution related to the embargo.
President Csaba Kőrösi presided over much of the session. In the past hour, he has handed over to one of his Vice-Presidents. That is Ambassador Brian Wallace, the Permanent Representative of Jamaica.
GA THIS AFTERNOON
This afternoon in the General Assembly…
There will be action on a draft resolution for the modalities of the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Member States will then continue the debate on the report of the International Court of Justice – the ICJ, which started on Thursday of last week.
The General Assembly will then hear Member States continue to discuss the report of the International Criminal Court – the ICC, which began on Monday. And take action on a draft resolution.
Deputy Ambassador René Alfonso Ruidíaz Pérez, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Chile will preside over the General Assembly this afternoon, in his capacity as a GA Vice-President.
JOURNALISTS
Today is the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
President Kőrösi recognizes press freedom as the foundation of a strong democracy.
Crimes against journalists are crimes. Full stop. They need to be prosecuted and those responsible to be held to account.
The President has said that in these troubled times especially, we see clearly how important it is that the rule of law be kept and protected.
He is using the occasion to remind all Governments that they are invited to cooperate with the UN system, including through the UN Country Teams, to implement the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
Less than a year ago, the General Assembly indicated that it was deeply concerned by all human rights violations and abuses committed against journalists and media workers. This is spelled out in resolution 76/173.
Wording in that resolution calls on Member States to do their utmost to prevent violence, threats and attacks targeting journalists and media workers, and to ensure accountability.
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Still on the issue of rights…
President Kőrösi has spoken about the importance of protecting, promoting and fulfilling human rights.
The remarks were made yesterday to the General Assembly.
He said that peace and sustainable development can only be ensured if human rights are upheld for all people.
President Kőrösi spoke – as he often does – in Arabic, English, French and Russian.
His remarks were shared with you, and are available online: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2022/11/01/pga-remarks-at-the-general-assembly-plenary-meeting-report-of-the-human-rights-council/
BILATERALS
Among his bilaterals today, President Kőrösi will meet with the Group of Friends of the DRR – that’s Disaster Risk Reduction.
President Kőrösi will meet today with Ireland’s Minister of State for European Affairs, Mr. Thomas Byrne. The meeting is expected to touch on peace and security issues, as well as preparations for the SDG Summit.
Later today, the President will meet with environmental scientists Norichika Kanie. He is a professor at Keio University in Japan, and a senior research fellow at UN University.
TOUR GUIDES
And last point – wishing our UN Guided Tours a happy birthday today, on their 70th anniversary.
PGA’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/un_pga/status/1587857534769139712?s=46&t=CqTnbtAe7lFQAtFyvB9I8w
QUESTIONS
There were no questions for the Spokesperson.
