NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS
Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Thursday, 20 April 2023

SUDAN

President Csaba Kőrösi joins the call for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Sudan, to coincide with Eid al-Fitr.
The President is very worried for the people in Sudan, and those trying to deliver aid in the country.
This pause would be a first step towards a longer-term peaceful transition in Sudan.

CIVIL SOCIETY

President Csaba Kőrösi today held his second townhall with civil society.
As he said in his opening remarks, his aim is to bring the “outside” in, to improve the quality of policymaking by ensuring that decision-makers have a better understanding of the issues they are creating policies for.
Today’s focus is on the SDG Summit in September and how to get the Sustainable Development Goals back on track… to stop them from actually moving backwards.
In his remarks, the President used mentimeter, which is an interactive software.
He actually held a conversation with about 100 of the civil society representatives before actually opening it up for a Q&A.
The President asked civil society representatives how they would define success for the SDG summit, what they see as the biggest challenges to achieving the SDGs, and what transformative changes are necessary to get the Goals back on track.
You have that interaction as part of the President’s opening remarks, in your inboxes and online: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2023/04/20/pga-remarks-on-his-second-townhall-with-civil-society/
The townhall was organized with support from the Department of Global Communications, DESA, the SDG Action Campaign and OHCHR.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

Later today, President Kőrösi will convene an informal interactive hearing with Indigenous Peoples on enhanced participation in the United Nations.
He is expected to invite Member States to reflect on innovative and appropriate ways in which Indigenous Peoples’ right to participate can be respected.
And to make the case that greater participation will only augment the legitimacy of decisions adopted at the United Nations – and assist Member States in their implementation.

CHINESE LANGUAGE

Tonight, the President will mark Chinese Language Day, by visiting the calligraphy and painting exhibit “The Highest Virtue Resembles Water” and the calligraphy exhibition “All Things Governed by the Laws of Nature” at the South Wall and Curved Wall area.
He will be joined by Ambassador Zhang Jun, the Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations.
The President is expected to make remarks, and those will be shared with you.

SPANISH LANGUAGE

And as you also heard from Farhan, this weekend is Spanish Language Day.
President Kőrösi has a video message for the day.
These language days are an opportunity to commemorate and cherish multilingualism, what President Korosi’s calls “a must for successful negotiations in the United Nations General Assembly”.

WEEK AHEAD

Monday 24 April

Among the many events on Monday, President Kőrösi will participate in an interactive dialogue with Member States on “Harmony with Nature”.
That will be held at 10AM ET in the Trusteeship Chamber.

Monday is also the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace.

Tuesday 25 April

On Tuesday, President Kőrösi will deliver opening remarks at the 2023 United Nations Economic and Social Council Youth Form under the theme, “Accelerating the COVID-19 recovery and full implementation of the 2030 Agenda with and for youth”. That’s at 9AM in the Trusteeship Chamber.

Also on Tuesday, in the GA Hall, at 10AM ET there will be a plenary meeting on a presentation on the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism on Syria.

At 3PM ET, there will be a briefing by the Secretary-General on his Special Edition report on “Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals”.

Wednesday 26 April

In GA Hall starting at 10AM ET, Member States will take part in the first debate on the use of the veto. President Kőrösi will deliver opening remarks.

Thursday 27 April

In the ECOSOC Chamber, starting at 3PM ET, there will an informal consultation on the recommendations of the High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism.

QUESTIONS

There were no questions for the Spokesperson.

Eid Mubarak and enjoy the long weekend.