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

United Nations Headquarters, New York

17 November 2020

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ASSEMBLY TO COMMEMORATE WORLD WAR 2 VICTIMS ON 1 DECEMBER

  • The President has?written to Member States?to inform them that the General Assembly will hold a solemn meeting to commemorate the victims of the Second World War on Tuesday, 1 December, at 3 p.m., in the General Assembly Hall.
  • Member States are encouraged to deliver regional group statements.

PRESIDENT DISCUSSES BUSINESS CONTINUITY WITH SECRETARY-GENERAL

  • The President held of his??with the Secretary-General this morning.
  • On their agenda was the issue of business continuity and making sure that the General Assembly has the support and tools needed to continue its work during crisis situations.
  • In that regard, the President mentioned that he is organizing an informal briefing on 23 November on this matter for delegations and different departments of the Secretariat.
  • He also raised the theme of Secretariat support, which would allow the General Assembly to make decisions when in-person meetings are not possible.

PLENARY CONTINUES DEBATE ON SECURITY CO±¬ÁÏÍøCIL REFORM

  • The General Assembly plenary was not able to hear from all those who wished to speak at yesterday¡¯s debate on Security Council reform.
  • It will therefore meet this afternoon to continue the debate.

THIRD COMMITTEE TAKES ACTION ON PRIVACY, MERCENARIES, RIGHT TO FOOD, DEATH PENALTY

  • The Third Committee, which handles social, humanitarian and cultural issues, is meeting today to take action on draft resolutions.
  • Those drafts relate to such themes as the right to privacy in the digital age, which was introduced by Brazil and Germany and adopted without a vote; the use of mercenaries to violate human rights and impede self-determination, which was introduced by Cuba; the right to food, which was also introduced by Cuba; and a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, which was initiated by a group of countries.
  • Asked whether statements made in the Third Committee by Cuba and Pakistan would be voted on by the General Assembly plenary in December, the Spokesperson said that statements delivered by Member States were expressions of national positions. No action would be taken on them.
  • Asked for a list of Third Committee resolutions that would be voted on in the plenary, the Spokesperson noted that the Third Committee had not yet completed its work. Therefore, it was too early to have the report that would be sent to the plenary. The idea would be for the report to be acted on in the plenary in December, but no specific date had been finalized yet. He urged the journalist to regularly check the ±¬ÁÏÍø Journal to see what draft resolutions were being acted on in the Third Committee day by day.
  • In response to further questions, the Spokesperson said the First and Fourth Committees had already wrapped up their work. However, for all the main Committees, the system was the same. After they ended their work, they prepared a report containing approved resolutions, which was then sent to the plenary for further action.
  • Responding to an additional question, the Spokesperson later confirmed that the reports of the First and Fourth Committees would be completed by the end of the month.

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT CENTRAL TO MEETING GLOBAL GOALS, PRESIDENT SAYS

  • Today the President met virtually with Taha Ayhan, President of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF).
  • The President told him to consider him as a partner as he continues to empower youth across the region.
  • The President said that active engagement by youth is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Asked for more information, the Spokesperson said the ICYF was based in Istanbul and directed the journalist to the President¡¯s?.