Making the United Nations Relevant to all PeoplePRESS BRIEFING BY MONICA GRAYLEY,?SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MAR?A FERNANDA ESPINOSA
Good afternoon, everyone!
Nice to see you all for another week…
PGA CHAIRS COMMEMORATION ON INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
The General Assembly is meeting today on?the occasion of? the? day for the?elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
In her address to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the PGA highlighted the role of hate speech by saying that “words are powerful and that words can kill.” The meeting today is focusing on?countering nationalist populism and supremacist ideologies.
Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa?recalled?that?it had been?the?murder of 69 peaceful protestors in Sharpeville, South Africa on the 21st?of March 1960?that had?moved the General Assembly to create this International Day.
A few years later, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination came into force.
The PGA said, and I quote:?“Racist ideologies helped fuel the genocide in Rwanda, the Srebrenica massacre?and many other?atrocities committed since.
These crimes shame us all. They represent the worst of humanity.”
Ms. Espinosa stressed that hate speech is not free speech. It?is racism.
A copy of her address to the GA can be found on the PGA’s website: un.org/pga/73 in the section called speeches.
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GA HOLDS PLENARY MEETING ON ABOLITION OF SLAVERY AND THE TRANSATLANTIC TRADE
This afternoon, at 3 pm. Member States will return to the GA Hall for a plenary meeting on the commemoration of the abolition of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.?
For over 400 years, more than 15 million men, women and children were the victims of the tragic transatlantic slave trade.? The 25 March is also an opportunity to honour and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system. The date also aims to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today.
The President of the General Assembly affirmed that;?“as the world enters the fourth year of Decade for People of African Descent, we need to do more to address?the impact of our past on people and institutions today.”? Ms. Espinosa?said?that Africa is still underrepresented in international institutions.?
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PGA’S AGENDA AND OTHER ISSUES
This morning, the PGA met the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Ms. Tendayi Achiume. She will hold a monthly coordination meeting with the Secretary-General, António Guterres, and return to the GA hall this afternoon for the meeting on the commemoration of the abolition of slavery and the?transatlantic slave trade.?
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