Duterte to speak at the UN General Assembly on Sept. 21

FILE PHOTO: The United Nations headquarters is seen during the 75th annual U.N. General Assembly high-level debate, which is being held mostly virtually due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in New York, U.S., September 21, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will join world leaders at the 76th United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) special session that will focus on recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a statement from the Office of the President, Duterte will be speaking on the first day of the High-Level General Debate on Sept. 21 within the 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. window, New York time, or between 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Philippine Standard Time.

The assembly’s theme this year is: “Building resilience through hope – to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalize the United Nations.”

Duterte is expected to tackle the Philippines’ positions on global issues such as “universal access to COVID-19 vaccines, climate change, human rights, including the situation of migrant workers and refugees, and international and regional security developments.”

The High-Level General Debate will be presided over by the current president of the UNGA, Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives.

The assembly will be mostly virtual, following “a hybrid format of in-person and virtual attendance of delegates, in view of the evolving situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

/MUF