Making the United Nations Relevant to all PeoplePRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA GRAYLEY,?SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MAR?A FERNANDA ESPINOSA
Good afternoon, everyone!
I hope you are well today…
AFRICA UNION – UN – 2018 AFRICA DIALOGUE SERIES
The President of the General Assembly spoke this morning at the African Union – UN Africa Dialogue Series, which was held in the ECOSOC chamber.
She observed that an estimated 42% of Africa’s population – or 400 million people live on less than one dollar and ninety cents per day, but that on the other hand, growth in Africa will accelerate to 4.1% in 2018 and 2019. Economic growth combined with coordinated efforts on sustainable development can serve to raise people out of poverty.
In the dialogue, the theme of which was “A Stronger AU-UN Partnership for Peace, Security and Development in Africa”, the President said that the Joint Framework for Implementation of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a tool to achieve [an] ‘harmonized approach’.
Whilst speaking about peace and security, Ms. Espinosa mentioned the need to continue the empowerment of youth and women to play a more active role. The PGA emphasized that there can be no sustainable development so long as the threat of conflict hangs in the air. ?For her, the empowering of all people to be peacemakers and peacebuilders is very critical. And she finalized by saying that her commitment is with Africa and the African people.
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY
Ms. Espinosa marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty noting that the persistence of poverty, including extreme poverty, is a major concern for the United Nations. You will remember that last year, the General Assembly launched the Third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018–2027), under the theme “Accelerating global actions for a world without poverty”. It is important that the Third Decade’s inter-agency, system-wide plan of action to coordinate the poverty eradication efforts of the United Nations system includes an effective partnership with people living with poverty.
She also says that as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this year, it is even more important to recall the fundamental connection between extreme poverty and human rights, and that people living in poverty are disproportionately affected by many human rights violations. She said, and I quote: “As the President of GA, especially the PGA from a developing country, I’m determined to push forward the decade, and work to eradicate poverty.”
GENDER PARITY – ETHIOPIA
President María Fernanda Espinosa congratulated today the Government of Ethiopia which announced a new cabinet with 50% of female ministers.
Gender equality is one of the seven priorities of Ms. Espinosa?s Presidency. She firmly believes that women can make a difference in the decision-making progress and that gender equality is crucial to the success of the Agenda 2030. In fact, she has dedicated her Presidency to women and girls.
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AGENDA:
On the PGA’s agenda today, she is having bilateral meetings with the Ambassadors of Afghanistan, Morocco and China. And in the afternoon, she will be at the GA Hall chairing the meeting on “International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.”
This is all for today. Any questions?
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