NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS BY PAULINA KUBIAK GREER,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ABDULLA SHAHID
United Nations Headquarters, New York
?AFRICA WE WANT
Today in the Trusteeship Council is a special high-level event focusing on development in Africa.
It is called ¡°The Africa We Want: Reconfirming the Development of Africa as a Priority of the United Nations System¡±.
The aim is to assess progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063, as well as the international community¡¯s commitments towards Africa¡¯s development.
This is a joint initiative by the President of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, and the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Collen Vixen Kelapile. With support from the African Union.
In his opening remarks, President Shahid said that while African countries face similar challenges to much of the world with respect to global setbacks: climate change, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fuel prices, and inequality these are often exacerbated by underlying vulnerabilities, heightening their impact across SDG progress.
The dialogue will culminate in a ¡®Call to Action¡¯ to accelerate the sustainable development of Africa, to be issued by Presidents Shahid and Kelapile.
They say that the most effective roadmap to address Africa¡¯s development challenges is for African countries, with the support of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ system, international and regional financial institutions and others, to lead joint efforts.
In addition to Presidents Shahid and Kelapile, the Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed spoke in the opening.
The event includes two roundtables. One that is wrapping up ¨C on preparing for COP27 in Egypt this December. The other, this afternoon, on domestic resource mobilization, innovative financing and global partnerships.
The President¡¯s full remarks are online. /pga/76/2022/07/20/high-level-dialogue-the-africa-we-want-reconfirming-the-development-of-africa-as-a-priority-of-the-united-nations-system/
I will share a copy of the Call to Action with these notes. [SEE ATTACHED]
GLOBAL CONFERENCE IN JAPAN
?
Still on the topic of the SDGs¡ in specific, the climate change.
President Shahid spoke to the third Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies Between the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Co-convened by Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ DESA, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵFCCC; and hosted by the Ministry of Environment of Japan.
President Shahid noted that sustainable development is only possible when it is in harmony with, and supportive of the environment.
And in the same spirit, the climate crisis can only be meaningfully addressed if actions are in accordance with the tools and targets of the SDGs.
His message comes on the heels of the high-level Moment for Nature event, which took place yesterday.
SHINZO
?
During the video message, President Shahid again offered his condolences on the untimely passing of former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.
President Shahid said his thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Abe¡¯s family, the people and the Government of Japan.
?
PALESTINIAN YOUTH
Turning to issues affecting young people in the Middle East.
President Shahid spoke today via video message at an event entitled ¡°Palestinian Youth in East Jerusalem under Occupation¡±.
He said the topic is important to him because the Israel-Palestinian conflict has been a pivotal item on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ agenda since the organization¡¯s inception.
Also, the theme aligns with his belief in the necessity of centering youth in decision-making, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding. This is one of the pillars of the Presidency of Hope.
In his remarks, President Shahid said that young people play a particularly critical role in our effort to broker peace in the region.
He also reiterated his support for a two-State solution as outlined in Resolution 181.
The event was organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People with the support of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
?
?
FEZ PLAN OF ACTION
?
Turning to Morocco.
Where the High-Level Symposium to celebrate the ¡°5th Anniversary of the Plan of Action for Religious Leaders and Actors to Prevent Incitement to Violence that Could Lead to Atrocity Crimes¡± is underway.
In a video message, President Shahid said that understanding the motivations that lie at the root of violence and atrocities is complex and that religious leaders are uniquely placed to offer such reflections and even influence behavior.
He added that religious leaders and believers in general, and interreligious dialogue in particular, are crucial not just in preventing incitement to violence¡ but in fostering virtue and creating the type of peaceful and inclusive societies in which atrocity crimes are ethically inconceivable.
The event was organized by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Office on Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect.
LATVIA
And later today, President Shahid will travel to Riga, Latvia.
The working visit will focus on ensuring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular emphasis on climate change and the environment, as well as offer an opportunity to see how regional countries are supporting families displaced by the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
A media advisory will be in your inboxes shortly.
QUESTIONS
The Spokesperson was asked if this year¡¯s Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵGA will be in-person or hybrid. She clarified that all speeches will be in-person.
The Spokesperson was asked about any restrictions on access during Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵGA and mask wearing. She said those decisions are up to the Secretariat. More information is expected soon.
The Spokesperson was asked about the next round of elections for the vacant ECOSOC seat. The Secretariat said that no date has been announced yet for the next election.
GLOBAL CONFERENCE IN JAPAN
Still on the topic of the SDGs¡ in specific, the climate change.
President Shahid spoke to the third Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies Between the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Co-convened by Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ DESA, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵFCCC; and hosted by the Ministry of Environment of Japan.
President Shahid noted that sustainable development is only possible when it is in harmony with, and supportive of the environment.
And in the same spirit, the climate crisis can only be meaningfully addressed if actions are in accordance with the tools and targets of the SDGs.
His message comes on the heels of the high-level Moment for Nature event, which took place yesterday.
SHINZO
During the video message, President Shahid again offered his condolences on the untimely passing of former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.
President Shahid said his thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Abe¡¯s family, the people and the Government of Japan.
?
PALESTINIAN YOUTH
Turning to issues affecting young people in the Middle East.
President Shahid spoke today via video message at an event entitled ¡°Palestinian Youth in East Jerusalem under Occupation¡±.
He said the topic is important to him because the Israel-Palestinian conflict has been a pivotal item on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ agenda since the organization¡¯s inception.
Also, the theme aligns with his belief in the necessity of centering youth in decision-making, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding. This is one of the pillars of the Presidency of Hope.
In his remarks, President Shahid said that young people play a particularly critical role in our effort to broker peace in the region.
He also reiterated his support for a two-State solution as outlined in Resolution 181.
The event was organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People with the support of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
?
?
FEZ PLAN OF ACTION
?
Turning to Morocco.
Where the High-Level Symposium to celebrate the ¡°5th Anniversary of the Plan of Action for Religious Leaders and Actors to Prevent Incitement to Violence that Could Lead to Atrocity Crimes¡± is underway.
In a video message, President Shahid said that understanding the motivations that lie at the root of violence and atrocities is complex and that religious leaders are uniquely placed to offer such reflections and even influence behavior.
He added that religious leaders and believers in general, and interreligious dialogue in particular, are crucial not just in preventing incitement to violence¡ but in fostering virtue and creating the type of peaceful and inclusive societies in which atrocity crimes are ethically inconceivable.
The event was organized by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Office on Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect.
?LATVIA
And later today, President Shahid will travel to Riga, Latvia.
The working visit will focus on ensuring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular emphasis on climate change and the environment, as well as offer an opportunity to see how regional countries are supporting families displaced by the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
A media advisory will be in your inboxes shortly.
QUESTIONS
The Spokesperson was asked if this year¡¯s Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵGA will be in-person or hybrid. She clarified that all speeches will be in-person.
The Spokesperson was asked about any restrictions on access during Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵGA and mask wearing. She said those decisions are up to the Secretariat. More information is expected soon.
The Spokesperson was asked about the next round of elections for the vacant ECOSOC seat. The Secretariat said that no date has been announced yet for the next election.