U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas -Greenfield says addressing famine and food insecurity will be one of the key priorities for August presidency of the UN Security Council.
The United States will serve as President of the United Nations Security Council for the month of August, a position that rotates every month among the 15 Council members.
n this role, the United States will be responsible for setting the agenda of the Security Council for the month, organising Security Council meetings, managing the distribution of information to Council members, issuing statements, and communicating the Council’s actions to the public.
Thomas -Greenfield, at a virtual news conference said in a world abundant with food, no one should ever starve to death – ever.
“This is a humanitarian issue, this is a moral issue, and this is a security issue. And we must address the most insidious driver of famine and food insecurity: conflict.
“That’s why this Thursday Secretary Blinken will chair a high-level open debate on famine and conflict-induced global food insecurity.
“The Council will look at ways the United Nations, Member States, civil society, and the private sector can strengthen, coordinate, elevate food security initiatives and eliminate famine.
“At a time when more than 345 million people in 79 countries face acute food insecurity, we all have a responsibility to do more and to give more,’’ she said.
The envoy said the second priority would be the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world.
“As we approach the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we will integrate human rights into this month’s council meetings.’
Thomas -Greenfield said her team would bring in voices from civil society to brief the Council on human rights abuses happening around the world.
“Of course, throughout the month we will hold other critical, regularly scheduled council meetings, which are outlined in our planned program of action.
“We will call additional meetings on Russia’s war of aggression, as needed.
“The world is looking at the Security Council to take on the issues of our time, to root out hunger and famine, to defend human rights, to advance international peace and security,’’ she said.
She further said that the United States was committed to advancing progress in the month of August and carrying that progress forward during high-level week and the SDG summit in September.
“The next two months are a test: can we live up to the ideals set out in the UN Charter? Can we put people over politics, progress over power? I believe we can, but we must work together and we must act with urgency,’’ the envoy said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is the third time Thomas -Greenfield has served as president of the Council.
The focus of her two presidencies set an ambitious goal for the international community to end famine.(NAN)
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