United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has recommended that ministers and diplomats skip traveling to a meeting in New York of the Commission on the Status of Women due to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a letter seen by The New Times on Saturday.
According to media reports, more than 7,000 high-level delegates usually attend the annual meeting which is dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The meeting is due to be held from March 9 to 20.
But in a letter to all U.N. member states, from the chairperson of the commission, Armenia’s U.N. Ambassador Mher Margaryan said the UN chief recommended that member states shorten and scale down the session and cancel dozens of side events.
The year 2020 being a landmark year for gender equality, the world is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action — the most progressive blueprint for advancing women’s rights.
In spite of all this, however, the UN chief urged that there is need to take into account the advice from the World Health Organization (WHO) with regard to the global COVID-19 outbreak situation, including the transmission dynamics in various locations; the future likely spread of the virus; the reliance on physical measures for prevention - as there is no vaccine currently available; "and the very large number of people from across the globe expected to participate in official meetings."
"We must, therefore, anticipate the implications for all forthcoming intergovernmental meetings at Headquarters and elsewhere, which will need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the specificities of the meeting and evolving circumstances," Guterres wrote.
"The sixty-fourth session of the Commission will be the first meeting to be held at Headquarters for which a decision needs to be taken imminently."
After careful consideration, Guterres noted, and on the basis of the advice of relevant departments within the Secretariat, the UN chief suggested that member states consider amending the format and conduct of the session.
Options could include, he pointed out, holding a scaled-down, shortened session, which would enable the Commission to still implement its mandate and mark the occasion of the 25th anniversary.
"Another possibility would be postponing the session to a later date, although that choice would pose significant challenges in light of the heavy calendar of conferences for 2020."
Amb. Margaryan wrote: "The Secretary-General asked that a decision be taken soonest so that government delegations, representatives of civil society and other stakeholders can adjust their plans accordingly."
"He also strongly recommended that capital-based representatives refrain from traveling to Headquarters for the session."
Following consultations by the Bureau of the Commission, Amb. Margaryan noted, "we recommend that member states take a decision along these lines."
A briefing is scheduled for Monday, in preparation for the upcoming session. Monday's meeting, Amb Margaryan noted, should "enable us to agree" on the recommendation of the Secretary-General.
It is reported that the bureau of the Commission on the Status of Women proposed that member states agree to Guterres’ recommendations at the meeting on Monday.
Reuters reported that U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Guterres made the recommendations given the fast-evolving situation with the outbreak and the need to balance the UN’s critical work and public health concerns.
"The advice given by the secretary-general is based on inputs from the Senior Emergency Policy Team and very close consultations between the U.N. Medical Services and the World Health Organization,” Dujarric is quoted.
The US administration on Saturday announced additional travel restrictions affecting Iran, Italy, and South Korea in response to the outbreak, following the first death from the virus in the United States.
Vice President Mike Pence said the existing travel ban on Iran would extend to foreign nationals who had been in that country the past 14 days. The State Department also increased its warning advising Americans not to travel to parts of Italy and South Korea affected by the virus.
The flu-like virus that emerged from central China in December last year has spread to about 60 countries, infected more than 85,000 people and killed more than 2,700, mostly in China.