COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION TO HOLD 1998 SESSION IN NEW YORK 4 -15 MAY
Press Release
PI/1060
COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION TO HOLD 1998 SESSION IN NEW YORK 4 -15 MAY
19980501 The future of the United Nations depends on the ability to project its centrality in meeting the challenges of the next century, the Secretary- General states in a report that is among the documents to be considered by the Committee on Information when it convenes its 1998 session on Monday, 4 May.During the two-week session, the Committee will continue its ongoing examination of United Nations public information policies and activities, as well as of progress achieved by the United Nations system in the fields of information and communications. It will also continue its review of efforts to promote a new information and communication order aimed at fostering peace and international understanding.
The Committee will examine reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of measures regarding information and communications approved by the General Assembly, as well as a report on the work of the Joint United Nations Information Committee (JUNIC) in 1997.
The Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Kensaku Hogen, will address the Committee's opening session.
Reports of Secretary-General
The Secretary-General defines his report on implementation of information and communications measures (document A/AC.198/1998/2) as a first important step towards elaborating a comprehensive plan and strategy in the context of reorienting the Department of Public Information's (DPI) information and communications activities. Further development of those concepts will be strongly influenced by the views of the Committee, the report stresses.
The Secretary-General elaborates the conceptual framework for a new orientation of communications policies and identifies its major strategic objectives and functional priorities. Those include the development of a culture of communications throughout the Organization; strengthening its capacity to use the latest information technologies to reach audiences around the globe; protecting its unique role in meeting the peace, development and human rights objectives of the international community; strengthening the Department's capacity to work closely with other parts of the Organization on
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communications and information policies for the promotion of substantive and thematic programmes; and strengthening its capacity to communicate at the country and regional levels.
The report notes that the Secretary-General has always emphasized the key role of communications in asserting the continuing relevance of the United Nations mission. The overall objective of the communications and information function is to help build broad-based global support for the Organization. That support depends on how effectively the Organization is perceived to deal with the challenges it faces. DPI's major challenge is its ability to reflect effectively and in a timely manner the activities, successes and performance of the Organization.
The report recalls the Secretary-General's concurrence with the conceptual approach and thrust of the recommendations of his Task Force on the Reorientation of United Nations Public Information Activities. His appointment of an Under-Secretary-General to lead the Department underscores the importance he attaches to the role of communications as an integral part of the substantive programme of the United Nations and not merely as a support function. His objective is to ensure the integration of a communications dimension into the work of all departments, transforming the United Nations into an effective modern communications-oriented organization.
Any new operational strategy should be built on the experience and recognized achievements of the current Department in dealing with communications in a multilateral, multicultural environment, according to the report. That approach would follow on the considerable changes that DPI has undergone in the last few years. It would also recognize the need to ensure acceptance by Member States of the overall strategic objectives and of the need for a flexible approach in carrying out the Department's multiple mandates.
The Secretary-General suggests that the broad objectives of a new orientation of communications activities should include placing the communications and information functions at the heart of the strategic management of the Organization, given its central role in building public and political support for the United Nations; helping to develop a culture of communications throughout the Organization in order to communicate the direct relevance of every aspect of its work to the daily lives and concerns of people everywhere; and projecting the Organization as an open, transparent and public institution that has the capacity to meet its principal objectives of peace, development and human rights.
The measures being considered to strengthen the Department's capacity to focus on the new orientation centre around the establishment of a Strategic Communications Planning Group in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General, the report states. The Group would advise him on the critical, cross-cutting
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issues which bear directly on the Organization's image. The report details the areas on which the Group would provide advice, including overall policy formulation and the deployment of communications technology such as the Internet.
That new electronic medium, the Internet, has joined the three existing media to open new avenues for communications, the report states. DPI was responsible for coordinating and managing the United Nations "home page" and for its public information content. To underscore the central role that the "fourth medium" will play in the communications activities of the Department, the Under-Secretary-General is giving careful consideration to the most appropriate organizational arrangements for that function.
In the meantime, the report continues, the Under-Secretary-General will take direct charge of the Information Technology Section already established in his office and strengthen its leadership by redeploying a post at the Chief-of-Service level to that Section from within the existing resources in DPI's budget for the 1998-1999 biennium. Furthermore, Internet training will be provided to staff in all divisions of the Department to ensure that management of the "home page" is complemented by content concerning specific information programmes.
According to the report, the Department is considering the recommendations of a feasibility study on the technical, financial, programming and managerial implications of developing a United Nations international radio broadcasting capacity. A study on the matter was prepared with the assistance of a major national broadcasting organization. At the same time, production of authoritative, relevant and timely publications will remain at the centre of the Department's outreach efforts. Accordingly, it will continue to revitalize its more demand-driven attractive material that demonstrate the relevance and centrality of the United Nations system to people's everyday lives.
The Dag Hammarskjold Library is designing and implementing a "virtual library" to enable members of the United Nations community to access a wealth of information online, according to the report. Despite the impact of new electronic and visual communications media developments, however, authoritative, relevant and timely publications remain at the centre of the Department's outreach efforts, it adds.
The report notes that a key feature of the new orientation will be building partnerships with important information re-disseminators of information -- the media, non-governmental organizations, businesses and educational institutions -- aimed at effective delivery of United Nations messages, and to building an informed and supportive constituency. Effective outreach to such partners will ensure optimum use of the Department's limited resources.
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It further states that the Organization's message must be carried beyond the countries where the headquarters of the United Nations system are located. In that respect, the report recommends that United Nations information centres and services be made more effective. In view of the substantial problems noted by the Task Force concerning the integration of some centres with offices of Resident Coordinators of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), its recommendations are being considered with a view to developing proposals as soon as possible, within the spirit of the emphasis on common premises, common services and common programmes in a single "United Nations House" in each country. The Under-Secretary-General's review of those recommendations will take into account the Committee's debate.
In that regard, the report recalls General Assembly resolution 52/220, which requested the Secretary-General to continue the integration exercise with field offices of UNDP in a cost-effective manner and, whenever feasible, on a case-by-case basis, while not adversely affecting the information functions and autonomy of the information centres.
Additional measures being considered as initial steps to strengthen the Department's capacity to focus on the new orientation are also outlined in the report. They include the development of a more effective news-gathering and delivery system; setting up of an effective mechanism within each division to provide feedback on the impact and relevance of its work; and enhancing the Department's skill base to ensure that staff are fully equipped to meet the challenge of communicating the United Nations message.
The report states that all reorientation measures will be effected within existing resources allocated for the 1998-1999 biennium, through flexible re-allocation where necessary and feasible. The Under-Secretary- General will ensure that the instruments for meeting the objectives of the new orientation are put in place on a strictly professional and cost-effective basis. That will be achieved by building on the recognized strengths of the Department, consolidating effective activities, adopting innovative and pro- active approaches to communications, sharpening the focus on specific themes, and setting priorities and streamlining programmes and resources.
The Secretary-General's report on JUNIC's activities during 1997 (document A/C.198/1998/3) details the Joint Committee's twenty-third session held last July, in Turin, Italy. Deliberations focused on promoting better public understanding of the United Nations role and achievements. The Committee also considered a variety of matters relating to inter-agency cooperation in the field of public information.
The report states that JUNIC members emphasized the need to promote an information and communication culture throughout the United Nations system, as well as a concerted system-wide approach to public information activities with respect to United Nations reform. Members also agreed on the need to
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communicate, through the use of modern technology and expertise, the Organization's achievements and relevance through a unified message based on the different perspectives of member organizations.
The report details JUNIC's position on a variety of other matters considered at its last session. Among them is its decision to convene an open-ended group to prepare system-wide guidelines for the posting of information on the Internet. Members endorsed a proposal that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) undertake the role of the lead agency of the Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) for the period 1997-1999. In addition, several members agreed on the need for an authoritative United Nations journal on the Organization's development efforts, following a system- wide review of all newsletters and other similar publications. The participation of the United Nations in upcoming international exhibitions was also discussed.
During the twenty-fourth session, scheduled for the first week of July in Rome, the Committee plans to take up a range of issues aimed at strengthening inter-agency cooperation in the field of public information. Deliberations are expected to concentrate on ways and means of promoting better public understanding of the role and achievements of the United Nations, particularly on the modalities for better communicating development- related stories to mainstream media.
Committee Membership
The Committee officers, who were elected last year for a two-year term, are as follows: Jose Alberto de Sousa (Portugal), Chairman; Holger Frederico Martinsen (Argentina) and Salman A. Abbasy (Pakistan), Vice-Chairmen; and Alyaksei Skrypko (Belarus), as Rapporteur. The election of a third Vice- Chairman is expected at the first meeting.
The 90 members of the Committee on Information are: Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire and Zimbabwe.
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