Special Session on COVID-19: some initial thoughts on the general debate

While I am sure that some of you watched, or listened to, the whole of the opening session and general debate of the UN General Assembly Special Session on the COVID-19 pandemic yesterday, I do have to confess that I only followed the first 8½ hours. A number of common themes emerged in the statements that were made, which showed a great deal of solidarity among Member States in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and thanks were expressed to the Non-Aligned Movement under the leadership of Azerbaijan in calling for the Special Session. 

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Special Session on COVID 19: Statements

Statements submitted to the Special session of the General Assembly in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic can be found here:

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Special session of the General Assembly in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on 3 and 4 December 2020 - Live Streaming

Dear NGO Representatives,

We are sharing with you the link that has now been provided to observe the “Special session of the General Assembly in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic” on 3 and 4 December 2020:

http://webtv.un.org/live-now/watch/31st-special-session-of-the-general-assembly-in-response-to-the-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-pandemic-3-4-december-2020-1-opening-segment.-2-general-debate/5970440811001

Special Session on COVID 19: Two new letters from the President of the UN General Assembly

The President of the UN General Assembly has circulated two letters dated 2 December related to the Special Session.

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Special Session on COVID 19: latest information as of 2 December

The UN Special Session will begin on Thursday 3 December at 09.00 New York time. As of today (2 December) it is in the UN Journal under forthcoming meetings and will probably move to meetings of the day. 

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[Update] Submission of questions to the Interactive Panels at the UNGASS on Covid-19

From: NGO Branch <ngobranch@un.org>

Dear NGO representatives,

As announced in our earlier message, the Office of the President of the General Assembly is inviting non-governmental organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC that have already successfully registered to participate in the UN General Assembly Special Session on 3-4 December 2020, to submit one question per organization for consideration to be posed by the moderators of the interactive panels to the panelists on Friday, 4 December 2020.

The deadline for submission of questions has been extended to Wednesday, 2 December 2020 at 12 PM. 

Please clink on this link to submit your question

Special Session on COVID 19: Accreditation — where we are now (29 November)

For non-consultative CSOs, Academia and the Private Sector

1. Organizations, not in consultative status, were invited to apply to participate in the Special Session, on an non-objection basis (which meant that provided no UN Member State objected, the organization would be approved).

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Special Session on COVID 19: List of accredited non-consultative CSOs

Accredited CSOs not in consultative status

The list of non-governmental organizations, civil society organization, academic institutions and the private sector that have accredited for the Special Session, on a non-objection basis has been circulated by the President of the General Assembly.  

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Special Session on COVID 19: Programme details (as at 27 November)

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.

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Special Session on COVID 19: Update 26 November

NGO participation in Special Session

The deadline for applying for participating or for speaking in the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) for consultative NGOs has now closed.

There are a number of questions for which we have asked for clarification from the Office of the President of the General Assembly. They include:

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