United Nations: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to deliver a virtual address at the annual UN General Assembly today. Prime Minister Modi’s office tweeted last evening, confirming his scheduled speech for today.
PM Modi’s speech is scheduled to happen at 6:30 pm IST. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s UN General Assembly is being held virtually, as almost all world leaders are delivering their speeches in a pre-recorded video format. 2020 marks the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which was started in 1945, after the end of World War II.
The issues that PM Modi is likely to raise range from global action against terrorism, including transparency in listing and delisting terror entities, India’s engagement with UN peacekeeping missions, climate change, sustainable development. India is likely to also indicate its willingness to supply the world with vaccines and life-saving medicines stemming from the COVID19 experience. India’s priorities will be to ensure inclusive and responsible solutions for international peace and security, effective response to international terrorism, new orientation for a reformed multilateral system, technology for all, and streamlining of UN peacekeeping.
Earlier this month, India’s UN Ambassador TS Tirumurti had said that “Prime Minister’s address to the UN and the vision he outlines will be truly significant, especially on the eve of our entering the UN Security Council.” Mr. Tirumurti said that on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the UN, as a founding member of the UN, he recalls with pride the significant and, in many ways, the pioneering contribution of India to the success of UN’s work and for peace and development across the world. The vision PM Modi outlines will be closely watched as it comes ahead of India taking a seat at the powerful UN Security Council as an elected non-permanent member for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021.
In another significant victory in recent weeks, India got elected as Member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the principal global body focused on gender equality and women empowerment, beating China in a hotly-contested election in the year that marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women.
Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani will address the High-level meeting on the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women – Beijing +25 on October 1.
Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change Prakash Javadekar’s message on the UN Summit on Biodiversity will also be convened by the President of the General Assembly on September 30 under the theme of ‘Urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development’.
