PRESS BRIEFING BY BRENDEN VARMA, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT VOLKAN BOZKIR

United Nations Headquarters, New York

16 October 2020

?

PRESIDENT MEETS WITH WOMEN AMBASSADORS, ANNOÄ¢¹½ÊÓƵCES CREATION OF GENDER ADVISORY GROUP

  • This morning, the President in the Economic and Social Council Chamber.
  • The meeting was organised by the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of Gender Parity, namely the Ambassadors of Ghana and Qatar.
  • The President announced there that he is creating a , which will be an informal way for him to gather analysis and advice on gender issues. It will be made up of around 5 to 6 individuals with expertise on gender equality and women¡¯s empowerment in the multilateral system.
  • Proposed members include representatives from Member States, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Funds and Programmes, Treaty Bodies, and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretariat.?

WORLD FOOD DAY: PRESIDENT WARNS OF RISING FOOD COSTS & THREATS TO FOOD SECURITY

  • Today is World Food Day.
  • In a video message to an event organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the President warned that rising food costs are making access to food difficult for many. And measures to tackle COVID-19 outbreaks are affecting food supply chains, which is threatening food security and nutrition.
  • He called for food system reforms, as well as new partnerships to help end hunger.
  • He added that we must also involve and empower young people to become the next generation of leaders and reformers in agriculture and food supply chains.

COVID-19 ERASING DECADES OF PROGRESS IN FIGHTING POVERTY

  • Tomorrow is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The day has been observed every year since 1993, as per a decision by the General Assembly.
  • In a video message that will be released tomorrow, the President will note that COVID-19 is erasing decades of hard-earned progress in our fight against poverty.
  • He will say that, as the world embarks on the largest socio-economic recovery since the Second World War, tapping into trillions of dollars, we must do more to reach the most vulnerable in society, who have been hit the hardest.
  • He will call for investment in a global recovery that truly leaves no one behind.

SAFE CONDUCT OF ¡®IN PERSON¡¯ MEETINGS RAISED IN COORDINATION GATHERING

  • In response to a question, the Spokesperson said that the matter of ¡®in person¡¯ meetings had been raised during between the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Secretary-General and Security Council President.
  • The PGA had said that his office was taking the necessary measures to facilitate the safe conduct of ¡®in person¡¯ meetings of the General Assembly. The measures taken by the Security Council to resume safe ¡®in person¡¯ meetings were also welcome. In this regard, the support of the Secretariat would be indispensable in joint efforts to ensure that the Organization was operating optimally, the PGA added.