The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
3 January 2023
Messages
Ms. Vellucci wished happy New Year to all participants and read excerpts of the New Year’s message from the Secretary General: “Ever new year is a moment of rebirth. We sweep out the ashes of the new year… In 2023 we need peace now more than ever… In 2023 let’s put peace at the heart of our words and actions. Together, let’s make 2023 a year when peace is restored to our lives, our homes, and our world.”
Pakistan
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said the International Conference on Climate Resilience in Pakistan would take place next Monday January 9 at the Palais des Nations. The Conference would be co-hosted by the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations, and would bring together governments, leaders from the public and private sector, and civil society, to support the people and government of Pakistan after the devastating floods in 2022.
It had two main objectives:
-
To present the Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework, which laid out a multisectoral strategy for rehabilitation and reconstruction in a climate-resilient and inclusive manner
-
To secure international support and forge long-term partnerships for building Pakistan’s climate resilience and adaptation.
A curtain raiser briefing with representatives of UNDP and the government of Pakistan would be organised on 5 January at 2:30 pm, with details to be provided soon.
Covid-19
Responding to questions on Covid-19, Tarik Jasarevic, for the World Health Organisation, said the technical advisory group on virus evolution was meeting today. This was a regular meeting of experts who would help WHO assess the risk of evolution of the virus. Chinese colleagues were expected to participate and the meeting would take place around noon, with the advice received to be made public.
ITU New Senior Leadership Team
David Hirsch, for the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), said the new senior leadership team of the ITU took office on 1 January 2023. Doreen Bogdan-Martin became ITU's 12th Secretary-General since it was designated a UN specialized agency in 1947. She was also the first woman to head the organization since its establishment in 1865
Member States elected Bogdan-Martin as Secretary-General in September 2022 at ITU's Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-22) in Bucharest, Romania. She came to the post from ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau, where she had served as director since 2019.
ITU was unique as it had five elected officials: Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, Director of ITU's Radiocommunication Bureau, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau. All five senior officials were elected to four-year terms. ITU noted and appreciated the interest the press corps had in talking to the new ITU Secretary-General and was working with her office to schedule a date.
Complete information on ITU’s new senior leadership team could be found on the ITU website: www.itu.int. Media inquiries could be found at: pressinfo@itu.int
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNEP , ITU , UNICEF , UNHCR , OHCHR , IOM , WHO , UNECE
UNEP: Update on the first Global Framework on Chemicals Conference, ITU: 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, UNICEF: Drones and drought worsen the crisis for children in Sudan, UNHCR: Nigerians flee violence, OHCHR attacks against press freedom in Egypt, IOM Ebola prevention and surveillance, WHO Ebola prevention and surveillance, UNECE UN Water Conference
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WMO
Speakers:
- Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General
- John Kennedy, WMO Head of Climate Information
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNHCR , IOM , UNICEF , WHO
UNHCR / IOM: Millions at risk of losing emergency shelter as funding runs out; UNHCR: warns of severe climate risks facing displaced people ahead of COP31, UNICEF: children in Ukraine face major water supply disruptions amid attacks on energy infrastructure; WHO: together for science and health.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | ILO , ITU , UNFPA , UNICEF , WHO
UNICEF: Education Cannot Wait (ECW) High-Level Replenishment Conference - mobilising funding for education for children affected by crises; Children in Ukraine have two-thirds of school hours disrupted by daily air-raid alarms. UNFPA: Yemen: conditions for women and girls in the besieged city of Taizz and in IDP camps; the status of maternal health facilities/services in Taizz City and in other conflict-affected areas. ILO: “Women in Business and Management report: Scaling Success". ITU: Facts and Figures 2026 report on global digital connectivity. WMO and International Ski and Snowboard Federation new guide on weather and climate services for ski resorts; WMO State of Climate Update at COP31
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , UN , UNHCR
UN Joint Inspection Unit: JIU at 60 - Who Holds the UN System Accountable? From Recommendations to Results – How Independent System-wide Oversight Contributes to Change; UNHCR: UNHCR winter appeal: 9m people urgently need winter aid as resources dwindle and temperatures slide; Refugees in Yemen trapped between conflict, displacement and dangerous journeys
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WMO , UNHCR , WHO , ILO
WMO: Greenhouse Gas Bulletin; UNHCR: As attacks intensify UNHCR urges support for war ravaged Ukrainians; WHO: Clinical trials in DRC: vaccines and beyond; ILO: New global and regional estimates on domestic work, informality and working conditions
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UN WOMEN , WFP , WHO
UN WOMEN: Sudan Women and girls one year after the fall of El Fasher; increasing drone attacks across the country; WFP: DRC - Ebola spreads to eighth DRC province as WFP delivers food, builds treatment centres and keeps supplies moving; WHO - Update on Ebola (Bundibugyo Virus Disease)
1
12
1
1
Press Conferences , Images | UNOG
Closing Press Conference following the Sixth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan
2
17
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences , Images | OCHA , WMO
Two UN agencies teamed up on Wednesday to issue an appeal for immediate assistance to help communities already being impacted by the strongest El Niño on record.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | CITES
Wildlife trade and conservation policy discussions at the 81st meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (SC81)
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNHCR , UNCTAD , WMO , OCHA , UNICEF , WHO
UNHCR Hungary’s 1956 Refugee Crisis: 70 Years On, UNCTAD World Investment Forum 2026, Doha, WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin and Climate Update for COP31, OCHA Afghanistan: Malnutrition, Girls’ Education and Recovery, UNICEF Yemen: Child Malnutrition and Unsafe Water in Taiz, WHO Inequalities in Noncommunicable Diseases and Risk Factors
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNHCR
End of UNHCR's 77th Annual Executive Committee (ExCom) meeting week