Ambassador Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations showed his concern regarding the growing trend of "fake news and disinformation on online platforms including social media. This has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the extreme reliance on ICTs. He urged the DGC to intensify its support for the efforts of the United Nations System to fight against disinformation. He also reiterated Group call for increased focus on the dissemination of factual, timely, targeted, clear, accessible, multilingual, and science-based information on all platforms.  According to the issued press release, he expressed this while spoke in his capacity as Chair of G77 + China at the General Debate of the Fourth Committee on Questions related to Information, Fourth Committee, 11th meeting - General Assembly, 77th session.

While supporting the activities of the Department, Ambassador Munir Akram on behalf of the group of 77 and China [largely Developing Countries]. Pakistan is currently chairing the G77 + China As the world has entered a climate emergency, a key communications priority for the Department must be to highlight the challenges of climate change said Ambassador Munir Akram. He urged the Global communications department to take appropriate measures to enhance world public awareness about, inter alia, reinforcing multilateralism, unprecedented humanitarian crises, and needs in the world, in particular, strategic coordination in humanitarian relief, especially in natural disasters.

On behalf of the Group, he also insisted on a need for the communication messages from the United Nations to be accurate, reliable, and impartial. \ While taking note of the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, and of the United Nations Guidance Note on Addressing and Countering COVID-19-related Hate Speech, the Group encouraged the Department of Global Communications to address hate speech narratives and to promote tolerance, non-discrimination, pluralism and freedom of opinion and expression, in order to assure that the key messages are spread in an equitable basis and targeting all peoples. Ambassador Munir Akram also expressed deep concern about digital disparities which are emerging as a new form of inequality between and among states.

He encouraged the relevant organizations to take steps to secure greater Internet connectivity, especially in developing countries, and rectify the imbalances of the present development of information and communication technology to make the world of media more just, equitable, and impartial. The Group also stressed the importance of mainstreaming multilingualism in all of the Organization activities. Ambassador also welcomed the promotional campaigns of the DGC, showcasing troop/police-contributing countries and encourage the Department to develop more effective and integrated communications strategies to highlight their contributions in an effective manner. On behalf of the Group of 77 and China he thanked the Department of Global Communication [Under Secretary General Ms. Melissa Fleming] for the comprehensive presentation on the report of the Secretary General on Questions relating to information.

G77 commended the Department for its continued efforts in raising awareness of the work and activities of the United Nations. G77 commended the Department global strategic communications response to a broad range of new and ongoing challenges, such as (COVID-19) pandemic, climate change and proliferating conflicts. The group also commended the Department of Global Communication efforts to support the United Nations agenda on issues such as sustainable development, peace and security, and human rights. Finally, he urged the DGC to continue to support and strengthen the UN information centers and carry out the rationalization process of such centers in consultation with all concerned Member States.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP