NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS

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

Friday, 10 March 2023

 

ISLAMOPHOBIA

The President of the General Assembly today addressed a high-level event on Islamophobia, organized by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan.

President Csaba Kőrösi spoke alongside Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who will address you here within the hour about today’s event, and alongside Secretary-General António Guterres, as you heard from Stephane.

In his remarks, the President noted that the General Assembly resolution creating the International Day to Combat Islamophobia was adopted last year, and speaks about the need for a global dialogue to encourage tolerance and peace.

A dialogue that should be based, to quote the resolution, “on respect for human rights and the diversity of religions and beliefs”.

The President said that as a believer, he “wholeheartedly” supports this notion.

The noted that Islamophobia is rooted in xenophobia, which he defines as fear of whatever is unfamiliar.

This is part of a broader resurgence of ethnonationalism, supremacy, stigma and hate that are targeting religious, national, ethnic and linguistic communities, he added.

Quote “It is on us all to reverse these trends by embracing diversity and safeguarding the rights of minorities.”

The President pointed to some of the ways that this could be done, through interfaith and intercultural exchanges, working with social media companies to curb hate speech and disinformation, and to include women’s voices in discussions around Islamophobia… such as through events like the one organized by Pakistan on Wednesday in which the President took part on “Women in Islam.”

The President’s full remarks are online and in your inbox: http://bit.ly/PGAIDCI

 

BILATERALS

In terms of today’s bilaterals…

The President had a virtual meeting this morning with Ms. Anikó Raisz, the Hungarian Secretary of State who will be heading her national delegation to the UN Water Conference.

The President also met with the Chairperson of the UN Committee on World Food Security, Ferrero y de Loma-Osorio.

He is also meeting today Ms. Eileen Cronin, Chair of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), which is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly.

As well as with UNDP Independent Evaluation Office Director Oscar Garcia. This meeting is in the context of the Global SDG Synthesis Coalition.

The President also today will meet with the United Arab Emirates’ Special Envoy For Climate Change, Dr. Sultan al-Jaber.

 

MODEL UN

This evening, the President will address high school students from around the world taking part in Model United Nations.

These are students in New York City for the NHSMUN, which is currently celebrating its 49th year.

 

UN WEBCAST IGN

A quick note on Security Council reform.

Yesterday for the first time, a portion of the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform was webcast on UN WebTV.

This was a big change from business as usual.

The President commended the IGN co-chairs, Ambassador Tariq Albanai of Kuwait and Ambassador Axel Marschik of Austria “for this gamechanging approach.”

Related tweet: https://twitter.com/UN_PGA/status/1633861594357669889

 

UN WATER CONFERENCE

Turning to the UN Water Conference.

You will hear a lot in the coming days about organization and what to expect, what to be on the lookout for.

I wanted to highlight that there are two expected outcomes. One is the mandated outcome, which will consist of a summary of proceedings that will be presented by the Office of the President of the General Assembly.

The other is the Water Action Agenda that will hopefully innovate and transform. And that consists of commitments, pledges and actions. I will include a link with my notes for your information, to the Water Action Agenda: https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/water2023/action-agenda

The President of the General Assembly is looking forward to have gamechanging commitments and actions proposed in the plenary and the interactive dialogues of the conference

 

WEEK AHEAD

Looking to next week…

Wednesday, 15 March, the President will take part in a CEO Roundtable discussion on “A Gender Equal Future of Work in the Digital Age”. This is being held on the margins of the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

Thursday, 16 March, at 10AM ET will be an informal meeting of the plenary to hear a briefing by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer.

 

QUESTIONS

 

There were no questions for the Spokesperson.