PRESS BRIEFING
BY MONICA GRAYLEY,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PRESIDENT DENNIS FRANCIS
United Nations Headquarters, New York
22 April 2024
FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO SDGs, PGA SAYS
This morning, the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, spoke at the Opening Segment of the 2024 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development.
In his remarks, the PGA highlighted that “development finance is more needed than ever – particularly for countries in the Global South.”
President Francis recalled that last year alone, the global public debt reached a staggering US $313 trillion, and that “developing countries are paying twice as much in interest on their total sovereign debt stocks than developed nations”.
This is one of the reasons “more than 100 countries have been forced to make the unfortunate choice between servicing their debt – investing in their development, in other words, in their people.”
The theme of debt sustainability and equality for all and its correlation with sustainable development was one of the topics discussed during Sustainability Week.
The PGA has also reiterated his call for a reform of the international financial architecture, which was established in 1945 and “is constraining access to critically needed development finance”.
President Francis concluded by saying that “Financing for development is absolutely essential – if we are to achieve the SDGs and thus realise a safer, more equitable future.”
More on his speech on the PGA’s website: www.un.org/pga/78
PGA’S GAYAP DIALOGUE ON 23 APRIL TO DISCUSS UNRWA
Tomorrow, President Dennis Francis will hold his Gayap dialogue, or morning dialogue, on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, with Permanent Representatives.
The PGA will also meet today with UNRWA’s Commissioner General, Mr. Philippe Lazzarini.
The last Gayap dialogue on UNRWA was held in early March.
PRESIDENT FRANCIS DELIVERS PASSOVER MESSAGE
The PGA has issued a video message to mark the Jewish holiday of Passover. This follows his video messages on Easter and on the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr.
In his message, the PGA said that: “Today begins the holy Passover observance – when the Jewish people around the world gather in celebration of freedom and resilience.”
He added that: “Passover is a season of rebirth and renewal, the triumph of hope and faith. It is also a time of reflection and remembrance. The call of Passover is one of unyielding resolve to look beyond the current moment and work decisively, together, for a more peaceful tomorrow.”
More on this and other messages as well on the PGA’s speeches, please access the PGA’s YouTube channel on www.youtube.com/@UNPGA78
GA TO CONVENE MEETING ON VETO INITIATIVE TOMORROW
President Dennis Francis will convene a meeting of the General Assembly, tomorrow 23 April, on Agenda item 63 “use of the veto”.
The standalone debate is an opportunity for Member States to discuss the issue of the veto and how GA meetings held under the veto initiative can best serve the goals of Resolution 76/262.
On 26 April, it will mark the second anniversary of the resolution being adopted by the General Assembly.
PRESIDENT FRANCIS TO SPEAK AT THE NEW SCHOOL ON 23 APRIL
Tomorrow afternoon, President Dennis Francis will visit The New School in New York.
Mr. Francis will be at the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy to a special address on the transatlantic slave trade, its legacies and pursuit of reparatory justice, as part of the 2024 Henry Cohen Lecture Series.
The PGA’s address will speak to the international legacy of slavery, shining a spotlight not only on the heinous acts committed, but also on the unrelieved racism and prejudice that continues to plague people of African descent and our societies today.
Following his remarks, President Francis will sit in conversation with Institute Founding Director Darrick Hamilton to explore the opportunities and challenges of multilateralism for advancing peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability.
Last but not least, tomorrow, there will be no video briefing here, but you will receive our updates on your mailbox. This is all we have for today. Do you have any questions?
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