NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS
Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Tuesday, 15 August 2023
AFGHANISTAN
You just heard from Special Envoy Gordon Brown about the state of education in Afghanistan.
Let me draw your attention to the remarks that President Csaba Kőrösi made in November on the situation in Afghanistan.
Sadly, nothing positive has changed since then.
Quote “Afghanistan is facing complex and interlinked challenges that the Taliban have shown they cannot – or would not – solve.
It is time to support the Afghan people with concrete solutions that place their needs front and center.
Afghanistan is now the only state in the world that would deny girls their full right to education.
I reiterate my call for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of all Afghans, especially women and girls.
We expect the Taliban to make good on the commitments they made to the international community. To show honesty through concrete action.”
Full remarks: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2022/11/10/general-assembly-plenary-meeting-on-the-situation-in-afghanistan/
WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY
Let me turn to World Humanitarian Day, which is marked annually on 19 August.
President Kőrösi has put out a message in advance.
He says that “humanitarianism has always been at the heart of the United Nations system.
The President salutes all humanitarian workers around the globe, risking their lives for the sake of improving others.
No other is safe until everyone is safe. Humanitarian principles come first #NoMatterWhat
Related tweet: https://twitter.com/UN_PGA/status/1691077560459743232
OPGA PODCAST
Today is officially the last day of the OPGA Youth Fellowship program for the 77th session.
You will continue to hear from the Fellows through their podcast.
The latest episode features the Youth Envoy at the African Union Commission, Ms. Chido Mpemba.
Listen at https://soundcloud.com/pga-youth-fellows/podcast-7-au-youth-envoy
QUESTIONS
The Spokesperson noted concerns by a journalist that attention in UN statements on the anniversary are aimed at the Taliban and not the US troops.
VIDEO
