{"id":185458,"date":"2019-04-12T14:03:05","date_gmt":"2019-04-12T18:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/73\/?p=185458"},"modified":"2019-04-12T14:03:05","modified_gmt":"2019-04-12T18:03:05","slug":"press-briefing-by-spokesperson-12-april-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/73\/2019\/04\/12\/press-briefing-by-spokesperson-12-april-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Press Briefing by Spokesperson \u2013 12 April 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
Good afternoon, everyone! How are you today<\/em>? <\/em>Bonjour \u00e0 tous! <\/em>To our 19 students of political sciences and international relations of Sciences Po, who are visiting the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ for the first time. Bienvenue, welcome!<\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
IN CEREMONY AT THE GA, MS. ESPINOSA PRAISES RESILIENCE OF RWANDANS<\/strong><\/p>\n
This morning, the President of the General Assembly spoke at the\u00a0ceremony to mark the 25th<\/sup>\u00a0anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.<\/p>\n
Ms. Mar\u00eda Fernanda Espinosa\u00a0recalled\u00a0that in just\u00a0100 days, starting on 7 April 1994, more than 800,000 Rwandans were\u00a0brutally\u00a0killed.<\/p>\n
The victims were\u00a0overwhelmingly Tutsi, but also moderate Hutu, Twa and others were systematically targeted. The PGA\u00a0pointed out\u00a0that\u00a0hundreds and thousands of people were orphaned, widowed, raped, maimed or forcibly displaced.<\/p>\n
Ms. Espinosa said that today was a time to mourn and to remember, but also to reflect and learn. For her there can be \u201cno greater lesson \u2013 and inspiration \u2013 than the resilience of Rwandans, who are an example to us all.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ceremony was also attended by the President of Rwanda, H.E Paul Kagame, the Secretary-General of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, the Ambassador of Rwanda to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, Ms. Valentine Rugwabiza and\u00a0the Reverend Marcel Uwineza, a Jesuit priest and a survivor of the 1994 genocide, among others.<\/p>\n
Ms. Espinosa said that it is necessary to condemn all forms and manifestations of the denial of genocide, and to redouble \u201cour efforts to fight hate speech and call out those who dehumanize others\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Annual Commemoration on the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda is being organized by the Department of Global Communications and the Mission of Rwanda to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
PRESIDENT ESPINOSA HIGHLIGHTS MULTILATERALISM AT EVENT<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>WITH BOSTON Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIVERSITY AND Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵCTAD<\/strong><\/p>\n
The PGA started her day in a panel discussion series hosted by\u00a0Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵCTAD, in Washington DC.<\/p>\n
Ms. Espinosa took part in the event\u00a0attended by over 100 people,\u00a0through video conference. She highlighted the crucial role of multilateralism, and the cooperation among countries and other international actors, to tackle rising inequality, climate change, to promote the Sustainable Development Goals, and to advance with an inclusive agenda around the globe.<\/p>\n
The PGA took part in the discussions alongside Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz, Professor of Economics and Nobel Prize Winner, and H.E. Miss Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados.\u00a0For more information and the video of the discussions, you can access our YouTube channel: unitednationsga73<\/p>\n
The event happens on the margins of the World Bank Spring Meetings.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
PGA\u2019S AGENDA AND OTHER ISSUES<\/strong><\/p>\n
And as we speak, Ms. Espinosa is meeting the Special Representative of the SG\u2019s for Colombia, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu. This afternoon, she will hold bilateral meetings with the President of the Human Rights Council, H.E. Coly Seck and grant an interview to Thomson Reuters.<\/p>\n
This is all for this week. Do you have anything else?<\/p>\n