Noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Reem Abaza, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly.
Highlights:
SG/older persons
SG/workers
WHO/flights
Central African Republic
Libya
Kenya
Cameroon
South Africa
COVID/refugees
Sudan
Ukraine
UNIFIL
Ozone layer
World Press Freedom Day
Somalia former SRSG
SECRETARY-GENERAL’S POLICY BRIEF ON OLDER PERSONS
Today, the Secretary-General launched a policy brief on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting older persons.
The brief provides analysis and recommendations to address the challenges older people across the world are facing such as a higher fatality rates, risk of poverty, discrimination and isolation.
The Secretary-General said he is deeply concerned about this, also on a personal level, not just because he’s an older person himself, but because he is responsible for an even older mother.
The brief has four main messages. First, that no person is expendable, regardless of their age. Second, that we need improved social support to reach older people. And third, that all social, economic and humanitarian responses must take the needs of older people fully into account, from universal health coverage to social protection, decent work and pensions.
And finally, that we should not treat older persons as invisible or powerless.
The Secretary-General added that as we look to recover better, we will need ambition and vision to build more inclusive, sustainable and age-friendly societies that are fit for the future.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LABOUR
Today is May Day, known officially in the UN as the International Day of Labour. In his message for the day, the Secretary-General is pointing out that this year, with the COVID-19 pandemic unfolding around us, we are truly seeing workers who too often toil unseen.
Perhaps as never before, he said, we recognize the role that essential workers play in keeping our societies functioning — getting food to the tables and markets, keeping public transportation running, and – of course – ensuring the operation of our hospitals and health systems.
The Secretary-General noted that the International Labour Organization has reported this week that the global workforce will be hit with the equivalent of the loss of more than 300 million jobs.
As we seek to build back better in the wake of this pandemic, Mr. Guterres said, the wellbeing of people must be at the centre of economic and social policies – with a special focus on those who are being furthest left behind.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=01%20May%202020
Highlights of the briefing by the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly:
Possibilities for elections without plenary meetings
E-voting
Virtual town hall on coordination for COVID-19 related initiatives
World Press Freedom Day
Upcoming NAM meeting