?

PRESS BRIEFING

BY MONICA GRAYLEY,

SPOKESPERSON FOR?GENERAL ASSEMBLY

PRESIDENT DENNIS FRANCIS

United Nations Headquarters, New York

7 November 2023

Video: ?

Good afternoon, everyone!

?

In a few hours, the PGA will be concluding his official visit to the Cook Islands, where he is attending the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

I will get back to this in a moment, but before, let me draw your attention to the President¡¯s message on hate speech.

?

¡°HATE HAS NO PLACE IN OUR WORLD¡±, PRESIDENT FRANCIS SAYS

?

Last weekend, President Dennis Francis released a on tackling hate and hate speech. He noted that: ¡°Since the 7th of October, the world has seen a sharp and worrying increase in hate, hate speech and hate crimes.¡±

For the PGA, this is utterly and unequivocally unacceptable. Mr. Francis strongly denounces discrimination on any grounds, online or offline, and repudiates any threats or incitement to violence rooted in a person’s race, ethnicity, or religion.

The President of the General Assembly says that ¡°hate has no place in our world¡± and that we all have to unite against hate and hate speech.

You can access the entire message on the PGA¡¯s YouTube channel:

?

PGA CONCLUDES VISIT TO THE COOK ISLANDS

?

The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, will be concluding, later today, his official visit to Rarotonga, Cook Islands, where is attending the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

Mr. Francis met with Heads of State and Government from the Pacific Islands, including the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mr. Mark Brown, to discuss challenges and opportunities for Small Island Developing States.

President Francis stressed that: ¡°The reality is that the future of smaller states and vulnerable coastal communities is contingent upon our ability to act decisively on the threats of climate change and sea level rise.¡±

He is the first sitting President of the General Assembly to participate in the Pacific Island Forum.

Small Island Developing States comprise nearly 40 Member States of the United Nations and Pacific Islands make up a sizeable group within island nations.

It is his intention to carry those messages and that advocacy with him to COP28, to the Fourth International Conference of Small Island Developing States, which will take place in Antigua and Barbuda, in the Caribbean, in May 2024.

The PGA and his delegation will return to New York today.

This is everything we have for you today. Do you have any questions?

?

END

?

Twitter (X)

Instagram:

YouTube:

?