NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS

Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi   
United Nations Headquarters, New York

Friday, 9 December 2022

 

GENOCIDE PREVENTION

The United Nations today marks the International Day for the Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and for the Prevention of This Crime.

There is a special event underway right now to mark the Day, focusing on the role of sports to prevent atrocities.

President Csaba Kőrösi said that this Day was born out of the General Assembly’s desire to ensure that “never again” would a person face the horrors of genocide.

And out of the General Assembly’s desire to honor those who continue to suffer because “never again” has become “again and again”.

He spoke about how sports can help to promote peace and inclusion.

Sports can develop a sense of understanding and awareness of diversity, it can combat stereotypes and hate speech.

Athletes are among the most influential people in the world – giving a voice to vulnerable people who don’t have one.

The President spoke directly to captains and other athletes, saying – you are the role models for today’s youth. You can educate them as nobody else can.

You have the President’s full remarks: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2022/12/09/pga-remarks-at-the-international-day-of-commemoration-and-dignity-of-the-victims-of-the-crime-of-genocide-and-of-the-prevention-of-this-crime/

 

#MoreThanAGame

Continuing on the issue of youth and sports and peace, the President today tweeted as part of a social media campaign presented by the United Nations Global Sports Programme.

The #MoreThanAGame campaign kicked off last month.

It aims to be a conversation between athletes and youth leaders on the power of sport.

 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Turning to the General Assembly, Member States are continuing their debate on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, as well as sustainable fisheries.

Action on a draft resolution has been postponed to allow time for review of the budget implications by the Fifth Committee.

The debates are expected to resume in the 3PM session.

Ambassador Jean-Claude Felix do Rego, the Permanent Representative of Benin and a GA Vice-President is overseeing the General Assembly this morning.

This afternoon, it will be Ambassador Jonibek Ismoil Hikmat, the Permanent Representative of Tajikistan and a GA Vice-President, who will oversee the proceedings.

 

OHCHR PHOTO EXHIBIT

This evening, as you heard, there is an opening of an art exhibit in the lobby.

Tomorrow is Human Rights Day, as you know.

The Human Rights Office is partnering with “Photography 4 Humanity” to celebrate this year’s Human Rights Day with a focus on climate justice.

President Kőrösi will speak at the opening.

He is expected to say that the Universal Declaration on Human Rights is especially relevant in the fact of the interlocking crises we face – partially because we have neglected our responsibilities.

Only a combined human rights and human responsibilities approach to mitigating climate change can ensure that we focus our efforts on the most vulnerable people.

For it is always the most vulnerable who bear the brunt of every crisis: the disabled, the children, the old, the indigenous, and the forcibly displaced. Images that you will see in the exhibit.

The President’s embargoed remarks will be shared with you.

 

NEXT WEEK

 

Turning to next week..

On Monday, 12 December, starting at 10AM, Member States will take action on Reports of the Fourth Committee – the Special Political and Decolonization Committee.

I have been asked about the whether the General Assembly on Monday will consider the draft on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. I have been asked about this resolution and originally told you that this resolution would be on the agenda. I misspoke. I will let you know when it will be taken up for action.

 

Also on Monday, the General Assembly will debate the probe into Dag Hammarskjold’s death. There was action expected on a draft resolution, but that is also postponed due to budget implications and needs to be first reviewed by the Fifth Committee.

 

At 3pm on Monday, the General Assembly will hold an informal plenary meeting to listen to a briefing by ASG Robert Piper, Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Solutions to Internal Displacement”. This will be held in the Trusteeship.

 

On Wednesday, 14 December, President Kőrösi will speak to the Security Council in an open debate entitled “New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism”.

 

At 3PM on Wednesday, the General Assembly will hear reports of the Second Committee – which deals with economic and financial issues.

President Kőrösi will be in Montreal on Thursday, 15 December.

 

He will give opening remarks to the high-level segment of the UN Biodiversity Conference, or COP 15. He will have a slew of bilaterals, and return to New York that night.

Meanwhile, here in New York, the General Assembly will consider reports of the Third Committee – Social, Humanitarian and Cultural.

 

And on Friday, 16 December, at 10AM, there is the High-level event launching the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.

 

QUESTIONS

 

There were no questions for the Spokesperson.