As large segments of the world’s population relied on traditional media for information on the United Nations and world affairs, delegates warned about the dangers of the digital divide, while hailing the broad reach of new media in disseminating the Organization’s message, as the Committee on Information continued its general debate.
During a “once-in-a-generation” year which would see the adoption of the new post-2015 development agenda, the United Nations Department of Public Information had a critical role to play in supporting the ever-expanding activities of the Organization, the Committee on Information was told as it opened its thirty‑seventh session today.
Following two weeks of intense negotiations, the Committee on Information emphasized today the importance of using all official United Nations languages — Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish — and of ensuring their full and equitable treatment in all activities of the Department of Public Information.
Despite expanding mandates and expectations and shrinking resources, the United Nations remained the “repository” of historic and current information for Governments, children, women and men to use to advance the collective human cause, the Organization’s senior communications official told the Committee on Information as it concluded its general debate.
By drawing on all its assets and partnering with a variety of stakeholders, the Department of Public Information was helping the United Nations support peace efforts across Africa, its chief told the Committee on Information today as it opened its thirty-sixth session.
