Welcome to the United Nations
Her Excellency Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, the new President of the General Assembly at the first meeting commencing the 73rd session of the General Assembly on 18 September, committed herself and her good office to “making the United Nations relevant to all people”, and in this regard, she outlined 7 priority issues to address during her presidency.
Notably she underscored that “The General Assembly should continue to raise awareness around issues relating to persons with disability and deepen political and social commitment to this underserved population which represents the world’s largest minority.”
On 5 June 2018, the United Nations General Assembly elected Ecuadorean Foreign Minister María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of its upcoming 73rd session; only the fourth woman to hold that position in the history of the world body, and the first since 2006.
The President-elect of the seventy-third session of the General Assembly, María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, has more than 20 years of multilateral experience in international negotiations, peace, security, defence, disarmament, human rights, indigenous peoples, gender equality, sustainable development, environment, biodiversity, climate change and multilateral cooperation. She has served Ecuador as Minister of Foreign Affairs (twice), Minister of National Defence, and Coordinating Minister of Natural and Cultural Heritage.
