Draft provisional programme details for the Special Session of the General Assembly in response to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic, to be held on 3-4 December 2020, have now been made available.
In addition to the President of the General Assembly and the UN Secretary-General, statements will be made in the Opening Session on 3 December by the President of the Economic and Social Council, the President of the Security Council for the month of December 2020 (South Africa) and the Chair of Non-Aligned Countries (Azerbaijan). This will be followed by the General Debate, with a “limited number of representatives from relevant organizations attending the session…”, time permitting.
The programme on 4 December will commence with statements by the President of the General Assembly and the Deputy Secretary-General, after which there will be a presentation by the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The Interactive Dialogue, which will include in-person presentations, live-virtual engagement, and pre-recorded content, will then begin with Panel I: The UN System Response to COVID-19. It will be moderated by Melissa Fleming, Under Secretary General for Global Communication (in person). The panelists will be:
“This discussion will take stock of the UN system’s response to the COVID- 19 pandemic. It will examine comprehensive and coordinated responses of UN entities and partners, focusing on the most vulnerable people and those disproportionally impacted in different operational contexts, including those in low-resource settings, conflict situations, and displaced communities. The role of, and impact on, women and girls will be a focus, particularly women as front-line responders. The discussion will outline what has worked well, identify operational and policy gaps as well as lessons learned. It will highlight actions required for the continued immediate humanitarian and health response, protection of human rights, and the launch of urgent economic recovery and social protection measures.”
Panel II: The Road to a COVID-19 Vaccine – A Global Public Good will be moderated by Lyse Doucet, BBC Presented and Chief International Correspondent (virtual) and will consist of two parts.
Part I: The Science will include:
Part II: Vaccines for All will comprise:
“Significant progress has been made in developing new tools and strategies in the fight against COVID-19, including vaccines, as the result of unprecedented international collaboration, much-needed investments, and world-class scientific efforts in research and development. The world is at a critical acceleration point in the vaccine development and deployment timeline, poised to turn the corner into the vaccine era of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this dedicated discussion on a COVID-19 vaccine is to breakdown the process of vaccine development and address the ‘infodemic’ around it in publicly digestible terms. How many vaccines are currently being tested and at which stages in the process is each one? How will vaccines be produced and distributed? How is the multilateral system working with governments and private sector partners to ensure the equitable distribution of, and access to, a COVID-19 vaccine as a global public good? How are the financial resources required to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 tools, including a vaccine, being mobilized? What other testing and treatments need to be readily accessible, pending the universal access to vaccines?”
Panel III: Resilience and Recovering Better from COVID-19 will be moderated by Femi Oke, an international journalist (virtual). The panelists will include:
“This discussion will examine the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and consider the path toward a resilient recovery, including the requisite preparedness for future threats. There will be a focus on in trade and finance, including inclusive stimulus and recovery packages, addressing debt crises ensuing from the pandemic, mobilizing investment that support sustainable solutions and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The discussion will highlight opportunities for accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through recovery plans and policies that favour inclusion, sustainability and resilience—such as expanding universal protection; promoting green jobs; making sustainable food systems; and increasing digital connectivity.”
The Special Session will conclude with the Closing Segment
(Timings etc are available here )