South Korea-led 'UN Health Security Friends Group' Holds High-Level Video Conference
Minister Kang Also Highlights the Need for Intergenerational Solidarity to Support Future Generations
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The "UN Health Security Friends Group," launched under the leadership of the Korean government on May 12, held a high-level virtual meeting on the 23rd (local time) as a side event during the high-level week of the 75th UN General Assembly, under the theme "Prolongation of the COVID-19 Crisis: Mitigating the Impact of Infectious Diseases and Protecting Future Generations."
The meeting was chaired by Stuart Simonson, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) New York Office, and attended virtually by co-chair countries including Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and high-ranking officials from various countries.
In her opening remarks, Minister Kang Kyung-wha emphasized the need to strengthen the multilateral system including WHO, stating, "As the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic deepens negative impacts not only on health but also on peace and security, economy, and social aspects, the willingness of countries to cooperate to overcome the crisis together must not weaken."
Regarding the COVID-19 response, Minister Kang added, "Global solidarity based on multilateralism, such as vaccine development as an international public good, social solidarity expanding special attention and support for vulnerable and marginalized groups, and intergenerational solidarity to support future generations affected by COVID-19 are necessary."
Representatives of co-chair countries, including the Minister of Public Health of Qatar, the Minister of Health and Elderly Affairs of Denmark, and the Minister of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone, evaluated that the Friends Group is serving as a useful platform to promote discussions on health security issues including COVID-19 within the UN, and welcomed the holding of this high-level virtual meeting.
Furthermore, Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, Kamran Khan, CEO of BlueDot, Asha Regner, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, and representatives from various countries participated to discuss measures to mitigate the impact of infectious diseases and protect future generations from the perspectives of the UN, private sector, and civil society, focusing on children, youth, women, technology, and other sectors.
The event also featured BTS as special speakers who participated virtually to deliver messages of solidarity and hope for future generations facing difficulties due to COVID-19.
A Foreign Ministry official explained, "Amid the first-ever virtual high-level week of the UN General Assembly since the founding of the UN due to the aftermath of COVID-19, this high-level meeting of the UN Health Security Friends Group was an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of solidarity-based multilateral cooperation in overcoming the crisis," adding, "It also served as an opportunity to raise international awareness and understanding of the need for global efforts to improve health security for future generations, including children and youth who are greatly affected by COVID-19."
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