– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly
16 December 2020
?
Her Excellency Katalin Bogyay, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations and Chair of the Third Committee,
?
Members of the Bureau of the Third Committee,
?
Excellencies,
?
Distinguished delegates,
?
I thank Her Excellency Ambassador Bogyay for her leadership, and members of the Bureau for their steadfast stewardship throughout the Main Session.
?
I thank all delegates for your tireless work over the past seven weeks, and your enduring commitment to human rights, and social and humanitarian issues.
?
You have exemplified the very best of diplomacy and in doing so ensured a strong, functional General Assembly which seeks to fulfil the aspirations of humanity.
?
Excellencies,
?
Distinguished delegates,
?
The Third Committee successfully adapted its working methods during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that the General Assembly remains a forum for the intercultural exchange of perspectives and ideas shaped by our lived experiences, in pursuit of a better world.
?
Despite the challenging working conditions in the time of COVID-19, it is most impressive that the Committee ensured business continuity. You held 15 in-person meetings and 29 virtual meetings, including more than 75 hours of interactive dialogue with 64 special procedure mandate holders and 15 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ representatives, and considered more than 100 reports.
?
I am pleased to note that of the 50 draft resolutions adopted by the Third Committee, most (31) were adopted by consensus.
?
I commend delegations for the ¡®Inclusive Development for and with Persons with Disabilities¡¯ resolution which urges non-discrimination, accessibility, and inclusion in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. In the Decade of Delivery to implement sustainable development ¨C which has now become the ¡®decade of recovery¡¯ ¨C the implementation of this resolution is critical to ensuring that we leave no one behind.
?
In some instances, technical rollovers were necessary to facilitate the Committee to take urgent action pertaining to the coronavirus disease.
?
In particular, I welcome the resolutions which place women and girls at the centre of the COVID-19 response, highlight the essential role of women and girls in pandemic responses, and call for gender-responsive policies and measures to end gender-based discrimination.
?
As an International Gender Champion I am proud that the Third Committee prioritised the needs and rights of women and girls in the 75th session of the General Assembly. I look forward to informing the newly established Gender Advisory Group of these developments.
Despite the challenging working conditions in the time of COVID-19, it is most impressive that the Committee ensured business continuity. You held 15 in-person meetings and 29 virtual meetings, including more than 75 hours of interactive dialogue with 64 special procedure mandate holders and 15 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ representatives, and considered more than 100 reports.
Excellencies,
?
Distinguished delegates,
?
As we contend with the greatest challenge in the 75-year history of the United Nations, the work of the Third Committee is more important than ever before. For the COVID-19 pandemic is not just a health crisis. It is a human rights crisis.
?
2020 was the year we sought to create the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ we need for the future we want. Thanks to you, we are one step closer to the realisation of a better world for all of us.
?
I thank you.