PRESS BRIEFING
BY MONICA GRAYLEY,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PRESIDENT DENNIS FRANCIS
United Nations Headquarters, New York
6 September 2024
GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES WORLD RURAL DEVELOPMENT DAY
This morning, the General Assembly adopted draft resolution A/78/L.84/Rev. 2 which declared 6 July as World Rural Development Day.
Member States declared that the new World Day aims to highlight the critical importance of rural development and transformation for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The text also recognized the critical role and contribution that women in rural areas make to enhance agricultural development, improve food security and to eradicate rural poverty whilst promoting their economic empowerment and full access to land ownership and decent work.
The declaration of the World Rural Development Day was adopted during the 107th plenary meeting, this morning, which also considered several draft resolutions, and was chaired by the PGA.
PRESIDENT FRANCIS TO BE FEATURED IN FAREWELL OP-ED
This afternoon, the newspaper The National in the United Arab Emirates, will publish a farewell opinion article by the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis.
The PGA wrote about his Presidency and the work of the 78th Session as well as the preparations for the Summit of the Future, which will take place on 22 and 23 September.
Mr. Francis highlighted the need for a “multilateral system that is agile, evolutionary and is well equipped to meet the challenges of the times.”
He also said that he is “convinced that rebuilding trust between nations, reigniting global solidarity, and accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda are not just lofty ideals; they are imperatives.”
The PGA firmly believes that the upcoming Summit of the Future, which will bring together world leaders, civil society, and stakeholders from across the globe, “is designed to inject much-needed vigour into our multilateral system and an opportunity that cannot be missed to acknowledge the shortcomings of the present order, and to act to rectify them.”
More information on the PGA’s website: www.un.org/pga/78
PGA TO HOLD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER
The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, will be here in the Press Briefing Room, on Monday, to hold his last press conference as PGA.
The conference will start at 11 a.m. with opening remarks by the President, which will last approximately 5 minutes, and will be followed by your questions.
In his remarks, President Francis will present the main highlights of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, including the convening of the first-ever Sustainability Week, elevating issues such as sea-level rise and youth engagement on the agenda of the General Assembly, the outcome of the 10th Emergency Special Session (resumed), his official visits including to Ukraine, South Sudan and Haiti, as well as his Advisory Boards on Gender Equality and on Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, respectively.
We look forward to welcoming you on Monday at 11 a.m. here.
Today, I am holding our last press briefing. On Monday, I will see you for the press conference with the PGA and on Tuesday, by the time of the noon briefing, another PGA will be in the office, President Yang.
I am most grateful to President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, for this incredible opportunity to serve as his spokesperson. It was a privilege and a great honour to work for his Presidency under the leadership of his Chef de Cabinet, H.E. Ambassador Collen Kelapile.
I also would like to thank my dear colleagues Media Adviser, Carolina Nazzaro, and Information Public Assistant, Serena Giglio, for their outstanding work, as well as all my colleagues at the OPGA78.
Let me take this opportunity to thank you very much, my dear colleagues here in the Press Briefing Room for the excellent and diligent work that you do. It is always a pleasure working with you and I and wish you well!
Do you have any questions?
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