New York, 26 July 2024
The President of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA), His Excellency, Mr. Dennis Francis will undertake an official visit to Rome, at the invitation of the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in conjunction with the Holy See as well as to the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom, from July 28 to 31, 2024.
In Rome, the PGA will hold a bilateral meeting with Mr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the FAO. They will jointly reflect on the current global food crisis. The PGA will highlight the critical role of FAO and other Rome-based organizations in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in this important area, amidst the deteriorating food insecurity situation in which the set goals and targets are at high risk of being unmet.
At FAO Headquarters, and with a view to shore up action, the PGA will also deliver a lecture entitled, “Accelerating progress towards Zero Hunger for the current and future generations”, followed by an interactive dialogue to highlight the urgency to address the worsening food insecurity.
The PGA will also hold bilateral meetings with senior officials from the Italian government and the World Food Programme (WFP), another key contributor amongst the Rome-based organizations.
While in Rome, the PGA will visit the Holy See, where he will be accorded a distinctive audience with His Holiness, Pope Francis. They are expected to jointly reflect on the challenging state of the global situation and to underscore the importance of reinvigorating multilateralism, diplomacy and dialogue, as well as promoting harmony, international understanding and tolerance among all nations and peoples; with particular emphasis on the importance of freedom of religion, standing against all forms of discrimination, intolerance and hate.
The PGA will use the opportunity of this visit to convey appreciation and underscore the important role the Holy See continues to play as an observer in the United Nations.
Following his visit to Rome, the PGA and his delegation will proceed to the United Kingdom, where the PGA will receive an honorary degree on international affairs from the University of Buckingham on 31 July 2024, serving also as acknowledgment of his able leadership of the General Assembly at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.
The PGA’s delegation includes his Special Adviser on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, his Deputy Chef de Cabinet, a Media Relations and Communications Adviser, and an Adviser for Sustainable Development.
The PGA’s delegation to Buckingham will include his Special Adviser on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, his Deputy Chef de Cabinet, a Media Relations and Communications Adviser.
Travel costs for the visits will be covered by the OPGA’s Trust Fund.
