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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

9 February 2021

?

LACK OF ACCESS TO HYGIENE & SANITATION DURING PANDEMIC IS ¡°Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵFATHOMABLE¡±, PRESIDENT TELLS WATER GROUP

  • This morning, the President delivered remarks to a virtual meeting of the Group of Friends on Water, which is made up of 58 countries that attach high importance to water-related issues.
  • The President briefed the group on his vision for the High-Level Meeting on the Water-Related Goals and Targets of the 2030 Agenda, which will be held on 18 March.
  • Noting that the entirety of the 2030 Agenda depends on access to water, he voiced concern that currently: 2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water; 4.2 billion live without safely managed sanitation; 3 billion lack basic handwashing facilities; and 700 million could be displaced due to scarcity of water by 2030.
  • He said COVID-19 has underscored the existing gaps ¨C and that it is unfathomable that, in the midst of a pandemic, such a large portion of the global population does not have access to hygiene or sanitation.

?

DATES SET FOR NEXT SECURITY COÄ¢¹½ÊÓƵCIL REFORM TALKS

  • On Security Council reform, the President has transmitted a letter to Member States from the co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations ¨C namely the Permanent Representatives of Poland and Qatar.
  • The letter confirms that the dates for the second, third and fourth rounds of Security Council reform talks will be 16-17 February, 16-17 March and 19-20 April.

?

LAND Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDERPINS 2030 AGENDA¡¯S SUCCESS BUT IS Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDER THREAT

  • The President has sent to Member States a concept note for the High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought, to be held on 20 May.
  • That event will assess progress made in fighting desertification, land degradation and drought. It will map the bridge between the end of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification, and the start of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. It will highlight land restoration as a key part of COVID-19 recovery strategies.
  • According to the concept note, land is the foundation of our societies. And productive land is a cornerstone of global food security, environmental health, zero hunger, poverty eradication, and energy for all.
  • Land underpins the success of the entire 2030 Agenda. And yet this finite resource is under threat.

?

CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL TRADITIONALLY PRESENTED BY MEMBER STATES

  • Asked if the President had received any notifications of candidacies for the position of Secretary-General, the Spokesperson said no such communications had been received from Member States.
  • In response to a further question, the Spokesperson said that candidates have traditionally been presented by Member States.
  • Pressed on whether Member State endorsement was a requirement for candidates, the Spokesperson said that does not preclude others from making nominations.