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Virtual Press Briefing by Spokesperson for Secretary-General
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the first Sustainable Development Goals moment. He emphasized that the pandemic has pushed us towards the worst recession in decades, with terrible consequences for the most vulnerable.
Today, the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth announced the names of the latest class of 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As you know, 17 young change-makers are chosen every other year for their efforts to combat the world's most pressing issues.
Geir Pedersen, the Special Envoy for Syria, briefed the Security Council on the diplomatic process for that country. He said that a faint but real ray of hope shone from Geneva when, in the last week of August, we were able to convene, after a nine-month hiatus, a Third Session of the Small Body of the Syrian Constitutional Committee.
In Lebanon, we, along with our humanitarian partners, are focusing on medium-term interventions to pave the way for longer term recovery and reconstruction.
Early this morning, Stephanie Williams, the acting Special Representative for Libya, commended the courageous decision by Fayez al-Serraj, the President of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord in Libya, in announcing his intention to hand over power to a new executive authority by the end of October.
This morning, the Human Rights Council held an urgent debate about human rights in Belarus. Nada Al-Nashif, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, read a statement on behalf of High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet.
Yesterday afternoon, in a meeting of the Security Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict that focussed on food security risks, the head of the World Food Programme (WFP), David Beasley, made a direct appeal to billionaires across the globe, to step up their assistance to the most vulnerable.
In Burkina Faso, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has increased by 30 per cent – from 2.2 million in January to 2.9 in July.
In Djibouti, the UN team there, led by Resident Coordinator Barbara Manzi, is supporting the national COVID-19 pandemic response.
Today is the first International Equal Pay Day. Across all regions, women are paid less than men, with the gender pay gap estimated at 23 per cent globally.
Today, 117 Member States have now paid their regular budget dues in full. The most recent payment was from our friends in Manila, and we thank the Philippines for that contribution.
For further details please see SOURCE below.
Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General