Speakers Spotlight Key Role of Department of Global Communications as Fourth Committee Begins Debate on Information Matters
Speakers today emphasized the vital role of the Department of Global Communications in disseminating accurate and fact-based information amid proliferating conflicts and pressing global challenges, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) began its review of questions relating to information.
Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, briefed the Committee about the Department’s work, saying that the unfolding crisis in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory has made accurate information paramount. She noted a major increase in traffic to United Nations news platforms, with over 1.3 million visitors since the crisis started. Moreover, news organizations around the world are quoting, republishing or broadcasting United Nations content.
The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence is turbocharging the dangers of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, she added. In this regard, the Department has begun work on a voluntary code of conduct for information integrity on digital platforms. Highlighting the Verified for Climate project, she added that traffic to the Organization’s climate website has surged by 60 per cent from a year ago, with numbers up for all six official languages.
During an interactive dialogue, Ms. Fleming said that the Department is looking to enhance multilingualism beyond the UN’s official languages — Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. She added, however, that it is wary of using artificial intelligence to replace the work of human beings, as accuracy and judgement are crucial aspects of the Department’s work.
In the general debate that followed, delegates commended the Department’s work in tackling misinformation and disinformation, with a focus on climate change. They welcomed its work on developing a global code of conduct for information integrity on digital platforms and emphasized the need to enhance multilingualism across the Organization’s publications and platforms.
Cuba’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, noted that the UN’s efforts to shine a spotlight on the climate crisis and offer solutions must remain an ongoing focus for the Department. In the same vein, Pakistan’s delegate, recalling floods in his country induced by climate change, said that such disasters show the need for timely and accurate information.
Thailand’s representative said that while the proposed code of conduct for online platforms would set a gold standard, primary responsibility to apply, monitor and enforce regulations on digital platforms must remain with Member States. Angola’s representative, meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, commended the Department for disseminating the Organization's ideals and activities in as many languages as possible. Doing so reflects a respect for multilingualism, he said.
The Fourth Committee will reconvene at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 19 October, to continue its general debate on questions relating to information.
Questions Relating to Information
LILIANA VERÓNICA BAÑOS MÜLLER (El Salvador), Rapporteur of the Committee on Information, introducing the Report of the Committee on Information (document A/78/21), offered an outline of a general debate held by the Committee to discuss the activities of the Department of Global Communications. In addressing the substantive issues, many delegations expressed concern about the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation surrounding the threat of climate change and interrelated shocks to food supplies and fuel prices. Speakers voiced their concern that information manipulation regarding the war in Ukraine was being used to deceive national and international audiences, she said. In that regard, many highlighted the crucial role of the United Nations in obtaining reliable information for all. In addition, several delegates noted the proliferation of hate speech, especially as related to religious persecution, and praised the Department for promoting objective, science-based information to combat it.
On the digital divide, she noted that many speakers urged the UN to take steps to secure greater Internet connectivity, especially in developing countries, while commending the Department for its use of social media and digital campaigns and initiatives to disseminate the UN work. Turning to multilingualism, she said many delegations emphasized that the use of the six official languages must be balanced to reflect diversity, while at the same time acknowledging the limitations placed on the Department’s ability to fund efforts towards complete and balanced multilingualism. In addition, delegates — pointing to growing levels of violence owing to the impact of misinformation on peacekeeping missions — encouraged the Department to improve its strategic communication strategies to address the issues of anti-UN propaganda, she said.
MELISSA FLEMING, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, introduced the Report of the Secretary-General titled “Questions relating to information” (document A/78/21), noting that the members of the Committee on Information, at their session earlier this year, had worked hard to find consensus. The Department of Global Communications is responsible for communicating about the work of the United Nations in a world of cascading challenges, from senseless wars to climate change, she said, adding that the unprecedented crisis in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory has made accurate information paramount. Noting that she immediately activated a crisis cell bringing together colleagues from all levels across the United Nations system to align on strategy and messaging, she said that since the crisis started, every day the Department publishes several news and explanatory pieces in text and video, drawn from sources in Headquarters as well as on the ground in Israel, Gaza and the wider region. There has been a major increase in traffic to United Nations news platforms, with over 1.3 million visitors since the crisis started, she said, adding that news organizations around the world are quoting, republishing or broadcasting United Nations content.
With the world in crisis — from the war in Ukraine to the conflict in Sudan, from the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria to the unconstitutional change of government in Niger, and now the crisis in the Middle East — the Department has activated the most crisis communications cells ever at one given time. These cells monitor media and public opinion, share updates on the work of the United Nations system and help the Organization’s communication response stay agile and relevant. They also address threats to information integrity, including in mis- and disinformation and hate speech, she said, noting that such threats now are being turbocharged by the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence. Drawing attention to the June publication of the Secretary-General’s policy brief on a code of conduct for information integrity on digital platforms, she said that the Department has embarked on an extensive and inclusive consultation process to develop the code’s recommendations.
With the return of a full-scale, in-person general debate at the General Assembly last month, the Department worked to bring its proceedings to the outside world, through United Nations news, photographers, web TV, video and livestreamed events, she said. Timely press releases, issued daily in English and French, covered “gavel to gavel” the 136 Heads of State and Government and 40 Ministers who took the floor in the general debate, producing a total of 473 pages of content. The Department also generated substantial media coverage of the Sustainable Development Goals Summit through a press package in all official languages and through targeted outreach. She also highlighted the Circle of Supporters who used their influence to galvanize further action, including Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ciara, Oscar winner Charlize Theron, famed musician Yo-Yo Ma, actor Orlando Bloom and many others.
The Secretary-General’s statements on climate action continue to make headlines, she said, highlighting in particular his remarks on “the era of global boiling” in July. Climate content attracted very strong interest on United Nations digital platforms, she reported, noting that traffic to the Organization’s climate website has increased by 60 per cent from a year ago, with growing numbers in all six languages. Also highlighting the Verified for Climate initiative that spotlights climate science, she said that it aims to build momentum for a rapid transition to clean energy. The Department is also using celebrity and influencer advocacy to encourage individual action around human rights, she said. Further, visitor services in New York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi welcomed close to 80,000 people for guided tours and specialized briefings. She also highlighted the 2023 Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship, which hosted 12 young journalists from developing countries. “Next week we will celebrate the entry into force of the Charter of the United Nations,” she said, inviting delegates to attend the UN Day concert, which promotes climate action. The Department remains committed to informing, inspiring, mobilizing and communicating what the United Nations does every day to make the world a better place, she added....
https://press.un.org/en/2023/gaspd785.doc.htm
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