PRESS BRIEFING
BY MONICA GRAYLEY,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PRESIDENT DENNIS FRANCIS
United Nations Headquarters, New York
12 February 2024
PGA VISITS PEACE MEMORIAL MUSEUM IN HIROSHIMA, JAPAN
The President of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, started his day at the Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before visiting the Peace Memorial Museum, in Hiroshima, Japan.
The PGA laid a wreath in honour of those who perished in the atomic bomb attack against the city in 1945.
In a post on his social media account X, Mr. Francis spoke about his meeting with Ms. Teruko Yahata, a survivor also known as hibakusha, who was only eight years old when her home town was bombed.
President Francis was “deeply moved by her harrowing account and fervent advocacy of a world free from nuclear weapons.”
The visit to Hiroshima was also an opportunity for the PGA to cherish the legacy of those who survived and to continue relentlessly in “our effort to bring about peace.”
Mr. Francis signed the guest book at the Peace Memorial and said: “Even as I write this commentary, mankind continues to wage war in Ukraine, the Middle East, and in other places of the world, despite our experience and better judgement to avoid and avert violence and to settle disputes by peaceful means. I think that the entire international community and all people would benefit—and indeed prosper—if we all commit to ‘wage peace’ for all times. Our future on this planet depends on our ability to find the courage to cultivate and nurture peace.”
Tomorrow, on 13 February, the PGA and his delegation will visit the city of Nara before travelling to Tokyo.
For more information, please access the PGA’s X and YouTube accounts.
GA HOLDS INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON GLOBAL DIGITAL COMPACT
The General Assembly is hosting a day of informal consultations on the Global Digital Compact (GDC).
The process is co-facilitated by H.E. Ms. Anna Karin Enestrém, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations, and H.E. Mr. Chola Milambo, Permanent Representative of Zambia to the United Nations.
The intergovernmental consultations on the Global Digital Compact are part of the preparatory process of the Summit of the Future, which will be held on 22 and 23 September 2024.
In a letter, the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, has encouraged Member States to actively engage with and support the work.
A first reading of the zero draft document is expected to take place on 5 April 2024.
PGA TO DELIVER MESSAGE ON PREVENTION OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM
The President of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis, has recorded a video message for the Interactive Event on the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conductive to Terrorism, which will take place on 13 February from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mr. Francis expresses his unequivocal condemnation of violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations.
For the PGA, “such philosophies have no place in cohesive modern societies.” He encourages all to galvanize action against extremism and to find effective solutions to safeguard our future generations.
The event, organized by the Permanent Mission of Iraq, will take place in the Trusteeship Council.
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President of UN General Assembly visits Hiroshima and meets survivor of 1945 attack
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