(4th meeting, closing) Committee on Information, 48th Session

Good morning colleagues.
please take your seats.
let's start the meeting.
So, distinguished delegates, I wish to call to order the fourth and last meeting of the 48th session of the Committee on Information.
Moving to the next item on the agenda, let us recall that following the general debate, the open ended working group of the Committee on Information was convened to continue consultations on the two draft resolutions for consideration by this Committee.
I am pleased to inform you that the Open Ended Working Group successfully concluded its work on Thursday 30th of April.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all committee members and in particular, Miss Kolappa Supriya from Thailand, who, on behalf of the G77 and China, led successfully.
These negotiations Colab are impressive.
Thank you.
Allow me also to express my gratitude to the Secretariat of the Committee for its support.
Many many thanks.
It is heartening to note that throughout our collective commitment and diligent engagement, the Committee has reached a common understanding on a technical rollover of the resolutions.
This outcome, which incorporates only technical adjustments along with the four new paragraphs on the Analyzation, stands as a further testament to the strength of multilateralism in action.
Our ability to work constructively, find common ground, and advance our shared objectives in a spirit of cooperation.
Distinguished delegates, we will now address item ten of agenda the consideration and adoption of the report of the Committee to the General Assembly.
At its 81st session.
The Committee has before it the draft report to the General Assembly, and it is now my great pleasure to call on the rapporteur of the committee, Miss Alison Kalam Sangiorgio from Monaco, to introduce the draft report, please.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
I will read chapter three.
General debate statements in the general debate were made by the representatives of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 in China, Latvia, on behalf of the Baltic States, the European Union, Angola, on behalf of the community of Portuguese language countries and in in its national capacity, Armenia on behalf of the Group of francophone ambassadors.
Spain on behalf of the Group of Friends of Spanish.
Ukraine, Thailand, Portugal, Costa Rica, Yemen, Cuba, Colombia, Israel, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Philippines, Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, Mexico, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Japan, the Sudan and Tunisia, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Romania, Argentina, Lebanon, Monaco, Italy, Egypt, Pakistan, India, El Salvador, South Africa, North Macedonia, Belgium, China, Greece, Chile, Dominican Republic, the the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the United States of America, Morocco, and the International Organization of La Francophonie The general debate commenced after a statement by the chair of the committee.
He noted that the global information environment was increasingly fragmented, with a challenge no longer limited to the spread of disinformation but extending to the erosion of a shared, factual, evidence based foundation.
Competing narratives were shaping perceptions of conflict, governance and multilateralism, while rapid technological advances were making manipulation more scalable and harder to detect.
In that context, he emphasized that the United Nations must continue to serve as a credible, impartial and accessible source of information grounded in the charter and responsible to diverse audiences.
He commended the Department of Global Communications for continuously adapting its tools and outreach to meet evolving challenges, and noted that communication was central to the organization's broader reform agenda.
He called for particular attention to the role of artificial intelligence which offered opportunities to expand the reach of multilingual capacity of United Nations communications while also raising complex challenges related to trust, accountability and misuse.
He also stressed the fundamental importance of media freedom, noting that journalists in many parts of the world faced growing restrictions, intimidation and violence.
He concluded by calling on delegations to engage constructively to deliver practical, balanced and forward looking recommendations to strengthen the work of the department.
The Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications also made a statement outlining the work of the department.
She mentioned that the department was marking its 80th anniversary and had continued to modernize United Nations communications to reach people on platforms where they consumed information and in the language they spoke.
She noted that the department had undergone undergone significant restructuring, which it had treated as an opportunity to sharpen its strategy, break down silos and expand partnerships.
She described the department's work across its core priorities, including promoting peace through the Hear Us Act Now for a Peaceful World campaign driving climate action through the Verified Initiative supporting Human Rights and Advancing Sustainable Development through the Act Now campaign, she described the department's impactful outreach work and flagged that the UN global social media accounts were followed by more than 17 million people.
She highlighted efforts to expand multilingualism through new WhatsApp channels and artificial intelligence translation tools, and drew attention to the department's news and media services, which deliver coverage across articles, features, videos, podcasts, and live blogs.
She also noted the central role of the United Nations information centres based in 60 countries, in extending the reach of United Nations communications to local audiences.
She concluded by reaffirming the department's commitment to demonstrating the relevance of the United Nations and multilateralism to global audiences in addressing the substantive issues.
Before the committee, many delegations expressed deep concern about the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation, noting that false narratives could have real world consequences, including threats to peacekeeping personnel and the undermining of humanitarian action.
Speakers stressed that the United Nations must continue to serve as a trusted, timely and impartial source of information, and several delegations highlighted the role of the United Nations Information Centres in engaging local stakeholders and building partnerships to protect the information ecosystem.
Many delegates underscored the importance of media literacy and targeted outreach as tools to empower individuals to critically assess information and detect false narratives.
A significant number of speakers highlighted and welcomed the adoption and implementation of the United Nations Global Principle for Information integrity, viewing them as an important framework to promote a safer, more inclusive and humane information ecosystem.
Several delegations stressed that strengthening the information ecosystem was a shared responsibility, requiring inclusive and balanced engagement from all stakeholders.
While some cautioning against the concentration of control over the information space and the selective application of information integrity standards multilingualism emerged as a central and recurring theme.
Speakers emphasized that information must be made available in all six official languages as a matter of equity stressing that linguistic parity was not a technicality but a fundamental principle reflecting the organization's commitment to cultural and linguistic diversity.
The growing demand for United Nations content in widely spoken languages beyond the six official ones was also mentioned.
Many delegations commended the work of the United Nations Information Centres in translating global mandates into local context in a culturally and linguistically relevant manner, and urged continued support for their capacity to reach the most underserved populations.
Speakers called on the department to explore innovative solutions, including the use of artificial intelligence with human oversight to advance its multilingualism goals with existing resources constraints.
Cautioning through cautioning, though, that the misuse of artificial intelligence can erode information integrity, the safety of journalists and media workers featured prominently in the debates.
Many delegations condemned attacks, intimidation and censorship, particularly in situations of armed conflicts.
Speakers noted that journalists continued to face grave risks in the performance of their work, and cited figures indicating that dozens had been killed.
In 2024 alone, delegations called on the international community to uphold its obligation to protect media professionals and to ensure accountability for attacks against them.
Delegations also acknowledged the challenge challenges posed by budgetary constraints and organisational reform, and urged that efficiency measures should not undermine core mandates, including multilingualism, inclusivity and geographical balance.
Lastly, speakers reaffirmed that transparent, credible and people centered communication was essential to sustaining trust in the United Nations.
They reaffirmed the importance of the Committee on Information in guiding United Nations Communications in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving global information environment.
Thank you.
I thank the distinguished rapporteur for her presentation Distinguished delegates.
Uh, the draft report contains four chapters.
Chapter one introduction, chapter two Organizational Questions, chapter three General Debate, and chapter four Draft Resolutions.
Let's proceed with consideration of each chapter.
May I take it that chapter one of the report is adopted? I see no objection.
It is so decided.
Let us now proceed with chapter two concerning organizational questions.
May I take it that chapter two of the report is adopted? I see no objection.
It is so decided.
We shall now proceed with the review and adoption of chapter three of the report, which contains the summary of the general debates and a consideration of the reports of the Secretary General.
May I take it that it is the wish of the Committee to adopt the relevant paragraphs of the document? I see no objection.
It is so decided.
Distinguished delegates.
We shall now proceed finally, with consideration of chapter four of the report, namely, the text of draft resolutions A and B.
May I take it that it is the wish of the Committee to adopt the text of draft resolution a.
I see.
Iran please.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Uh, my delegation would like to express its sincere appreciation to to you, Mr.
Chair, and other members of the Bureau, to the facilitator and to the Secretariat for their dedicated work in preparing the final versions of the draft resolutions before us.
Uh, we recognize the effort invested in ensuring their timely circulation.
At the same time, we wish to place on record that some of the amendments introduced at the editorial level go beyond what we would consider purely editorial adjustments.
While we are prepared to join consensus today, we believe that such changes should be brought back to member states, giving them appropriate time for consultation, particularly given that these texts were carefully negotiated among the committee membership and that even small additions or deletions can carry meaningful implications for the agreed context.
We therefore trust that going forward as an established practice, any modifications that might exceed editorial clarification will be shared with delegations in advance, allowing sufficient time for review with our capitals.
In this regard, my delegation requests that this statement be duly reflected in the final report of the committee.
I thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Um, I thank the distinguished representative of Iran for this statement.
May I take it that it is the wish of the Committee to adopt the text of Draft Resolution A.
I see no objection.
It is so decided.
Let us now consider draft resolution B.
May I take it that it is a wish of this Committee to adopt the text of Draft Resolution B? I see no objection.
It is so decided.
Distinguished delegates, having completed our consideration of the committee's recommendations to the General Assembly, may take it that it is the wish of this Committee to adopt its draft report to the General Assembly as a whole.
I hear no objection.
It is so decided.
I guess we can congratulate ourselves and all members of the Committee.
Of course.
Thank you very much.
Are there any delegations wishing to take the floor at this time? European Union is the European Union.
So European Union, please.
You have a floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Madam Undersecretary General, distinguished colleagues, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states.
Let me begin by expressing our sincere thanks to you, chair, and to the members of the Bureau on your commitment in guiding us through this session.
Uh, we also wish to thank our colleagues at the Secretariat for your continued support throughout our work.
Um, our appreciation also goes to the G77 and China for presenting the zero draft.
And of course, to our distinguished colleague from Thailand, who once again guided us with great skill as facilitator.
We also thank all delegations for their constructive engagement.
It is thanks to our collective efforts and spirit of compromise that today we welcome the adoption by consensus of the resolution on questions relating to information.
In doing so, we continue a proud 39 year tradition at this committee.
We welcome that through the effective implementation of resolution 79/327 on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, as well as our collective commitments under the UN initiative to ensure more more focused deliberations, we have successfully reduced the frequency of the resolution.
At the same time, the resolution continues to provide strong guidance to the Department of Global Communications to promote reliable, factual and multilingual information and to uphold information integrity and counter information manipulation and disinformation that undermine the work of the United Nations.
As we move forward, we remain committed to upholding the integrity of this committee and the mandate of the Department.
Let us continue to work together in a spirit of constructive cooperation, consensus and collegiality to ensure that the UN remains a beacon of hope in a world that needs it more than ever.
Thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union.
Next speaker is Turkey.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your able stewardship in guiding the work of this committee.
I also extend my gratitude to the Department of Global Communications for their dedicated and professional contributions to the United Nations work.
Allow me to offer a brief clarification regarding our position on certain references contained in the adopted resolutions with respect to the peacekeeping section in resolution B, we understand the phrases host country state government to denote those cases in which UN peacekeeping missions have concluded logistical and legal arrangements with the receiving party as appropriate.
We recognize that peacekeeping operations are inherently complex, each shaped by its own distinct dynamics.
In this regard, it is essential that the perspectives of all relevant stakeholders are duly taken into consideration consideration throughout these processes.
I thank you, Mr.
Chair.
I'm sorry.
I thank the distinguished representative of Turkey.
Next speaker is Argentina.
Muchas gracias.
Thank you very much.
Argentina would like to begin by thanking and congratulating Uruguay for its leadership during its chairmanship of the G77 and China, and throughout the work for its facilitation on this report, uh, particularly on the introduction and chapter four, we would like to go on record with regard to our association on all references to the 2030 agenda and the SDGs.
In this sense, my country recalls that the 2030 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals represent non-binding commitments that each state can interpret and apply in line with its national priorities and policies.
Likewise, we recall our position with regard to the pact for the future at its adoption in September 2024.
Further, we would like to dissociate from those references related to matters of gender and concepts such as misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.
Argentina believes that broad and imprecise concepts such as these could give rise to interpretations that are incompatible with the freedom of expression.
Uh.
Under the law and in line with international human rights law.
Finally, Argentina reaffirms its constructive commitment to the work of the Committee on Information and to strengthening UN public Communication based on the principles of, uh, respect for national positions, multilingualism, and full accordance with the UN charter.
Thank you very much.
I thank our distinguished representative of Argentina.
Next speaker is Uruguay.
Mr.
Chair, Undersecretary General for Global Communications, Distinguished Delegates.
I'm honored to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
At the closing of this of the 48th session of the Committee on Information.
At the outset, allow me to express our appreciation to you, Mr.
Chair, and the other members of the Bureau for their effective and inclusive leadership role.
We also thank the Department of Global Communications, USG, Miss Melissa Fleming and her team at the DSG for the quality of the work accomplished during the informal sessions.
Moreover the group would like to thank, uh Mrs.
Kuleba from the Permanent Mission of Thailand for her excellent work leading the Group of 77 and China through the negotiations of the draft resolutions of the Committee on Information.
I also would like to thank the members of the G77 and China Secretariat for providing an enabling environment and support.
During the course of this session.
Allow me to congratulate our distinguished delegates on the adoption of the group's proposed resolution by consensus.
We thank all delegations for their constructive engagement with the G77 and China to agree on the technical rollover of the draft resolutions during this session.
This year, the group wishes to underscore that the finalization of the resolution is relevant measure for achieving greater effectiveness in the committee's work.
In this regard, the Group welcomes the opportunity to participate in a substantive dialogue next year, focused on taking stock of the resolution's implementation and exploring further avenues for the DG C's work.
The group hopes that the transition to a longer reporting period will enable the department to optimize its resources and deliver even more impactful, substantive reporting.
We are gratified to see that on this occasion, the resolution can be adopted in the six official languages of the organization, which shows the strong commitment not only of the G77 and China, but also of all the delegations involved in this process to multilingualism as a core value of the organization, the group will remain ready to engage constructively on future negotiations to further strengthen and support the work of the DG.
Convinced that access to impartial, accurate and accessible information is central to the pursuit of sustainable development, leaving no one behind.
With the adoption of these resolutions, we are renewing the support for the Department of Global Communications at a crucial time in the media landscape around the world, I thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Uruguay.
Next speaker is Hungary.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Madam Undersecretary General, distinguished delegates.
Hungary aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union and its member states, but allow me to share a few additional remarks.
I will have three very brief points.
First and foremost, we firmly believe that the Committee on Information has a vital role in providing guidance to the Department of Global Communications, thereby promoting reliable, factual and multilingual information, as well as addressing the challenges posed to the information of citizens.
We also welcome the decision to be analyzed, the resolution, which will render the work of the committee more effective.
At the same time, I would like to recall that Hungary did not adopt the Global Compact on Migration and does not participate in its implementation, as Hungary firmly believes that migration has no positive impact on inclusive growth and development.
For this reason, Hungary disassociates itself from operative paragraph 21 and operative paragraph 22 of the resolution titled United Nations Global Communications Policies and Activities.
Last but not least, I would like to also point out that currently, after the parliamentary elections on the 12th of April, Hungary is in a transitional transitional period and it will be the new government's task to develop the priorities of our foreign policy.
In conclusion, Mr.
Chair, let me reiterate our appreciation for the work of this committee and the Secretariat.
I thank you.
I thank the distinguished representative of Hungary.
Um, are there any further delegations wishing to take the floor? Yes, I see.
Philippines, please.
You have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
We wish to congratulate you, the bureau members and the members of this Committee for successful 48 session of the Committee on Information.
Thanks.
Also go to the Secretariat, including the Department of Global Communications, for their assistance throughout the work of the Committee.
This session provides renewed momentum in the work of the DG in the United Nations on protecting information.
Mr.
chair, the committee's report is comprehensive and ensures that the DG will be able to holistically address new and emerging challenges, the Philippines notes the finalization of the resolution concerning the questions relating to information, and supports the sustained annual meetings to review the implementation of its work.
The rapidly changing information ecosystem requires a United Nations that is equipped and agile, and it is the responsibility of Member States that proper guidance to the organization is provided.
The Philippines renews its call to ensure that DG receives the political and material support it needs to fulfill its core functions and at the same time, to provide opportunities for partnerships for the greater benefit of the organization and the people it serves.
Mr.
chair the Philippines reaffirms that the delivery of credible and reliable information remains one of the United Nation's greatest strengths.
The Philippines will continue to play a constructive role within the Committee on Information and stands ready to cooperate in fostering information that is free, transparent and inclusive for all.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Thank you.
Distinguished Representative of Philippines.
Um, are there any other delegations wishing to take to take the stage? No.
Uh, I see none.
So, uh, distinguished delegates.
Allow me, uh, at this point to convey my appreciation to the staff of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, for the excellent services provided ahead.
And during this annual session of the committee.
Many, many thanks.
I would also like to thank the delegates for their support and for the support you have shown me and my bureau.
Uh many, many thanks.
I would also like to thank someone who has been covering my back during these two years.
My expert.
And I also thank the members of the Bureau of the Committee on Information who are concluding their term.
Mr.
Yusuf Aden from Djibouti, Miss Carla Lorena Sandy Quinteros from Bolivia, Miss Rava Zogby from Lebanon, and Miss Alison Galam Sangiorgio from Monaco, who has who was also the rapporteur of the committee.
Many, many thanks.
I call on the group of Western European and other states to appoint the next chair of the Committee for a two year term, starting with the 49th session.
Distinguished delegates.
Now, I would like to invite the Undersecretary General for Global Communications, Miss Melissa Fleming, to make closing remarks.
Miss Fleming, you have the floor.
Thank you, chair and distinguished delegates, as we close this 48th session of the Committee on Information.
I would also like to begin with a word of gratitude and genuine acknowledgement of what it takes to reach the outcome that we have today.
We are so grateful at DGC for the guidance that this committee provides to the department's work.
And, Mr.
Chair, Your Excellency, Ambassador Tammsaare of Estonia, thank you for your leadership of this session to the Bureau, Yusuf Adan Musa of Djibouti, Carla Lorena, Sandy Quintero of Bolivia, Rava of Lebanon, and Rapporteur Allison Kalam, San Giorgio of Monaco.
The department appreciates everything you contributed to Counselor Kalua.
Um of Thailand on behalf of the Group of 77 in China, your role in reaching an agreement was essential.
And to Rob Skinner and Garcia, just namely the Secretariat team.
This session runs thanks to you also to Travis Wyatt, assuming the duties of the Secretary of the committee going forward.
I look forward to working with you in this capacity as well.
Distinguished delegates.
The general debate this session made clear that the products and services which our Department delivers have never been more consequential.
And as we heard in the in the, um, in the summary report, um, delegation after delegation returned to the same concern, the information environment is deteriorating and the United Nations needs to be an authoritative source of information solutions and also inspiration in the languages people speak and on the platforms where they get their information.
We heard strong support for our information integrity work, as well as calls for the protection of journalists.
Multilingualism featured both as a value as well as a demand.
The UN's message is only as powerful as its reach, and that reach depends on communicating across language and cultures.
On AI, the message from the delegations was nuanced a genuine tool for expanding access and bridging bridging linguistic gaps, but one that also requires human oversight and must strengthen rather than erode the quality of the information that we provide.
Delegations also called for the urgency in reaching communities across the Global South who are still on the wrong side of the digital divide.
Mister chair, the challenges this committee has debated are also challenges the department confronts every day, but we don't face them from the sidelines.
The road ahead will require us to communicate with wider reach, sharper focus and greater urgency about what the United Nations is doing, why it matters while finding ways to build a healthier information ecosystem and a better informed public.
We hope that we'll continue having this community on our side.
Thank you.
Thank you, Chief Fleming, for this statement.
And, um, I should now make a statement in my capacity as a chair of a committee, with your permission.
So, uh, excellencies, dear colleagues, USG Fleming, as we conclude this session of the Committee on Information, I would like to express my sincere gratitude again to all delegations for their constructive engagement and support over the past two years during Estonian chairmanship.
Chairing this committee has been both an honor and a responsibility.
At a time when the role of information, communication and the work of the UN Department of Global Communications have become more important than ever Throughout our work, I have greatly appreciated the spirit of cooperation and compromise shown by Member States, all Member States, even on the most difficult issues in particular.
And again, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the members of the bureau from Monaco, Lebanon, Bolivia and Djibouti for their close cooperation and support throughout these two years.
I would also like to thank again from Thailand for her excellent work in facilitating the resolution for the past two years and helping guide the process with great professionalism, patience and skill.
I would further like to thank USG, Melissa Fleming and the entire DGC team for their professionalism, openness and dedication under often very challenging circumstances.
And a special word of appreciation.
Appreciation goes to our Secretary Rob.
Thank you, Rob for his many years of dedicated service to this committee.
His institutional knowledge, professionalism and calm guidance have been invaluable for all of us, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter.
At the same time, I would like to warmly welcome Travis as a new secretary of the committee, and we look forward to working with him very closely.
And I also wish to thank for her constant support and excellent cooperation throughout our chairmanship.
I hope the committee will continue to approach its work in the same spirit that has guided us over the past two years with patients mutual respect and willingness to preserve common ground, particularly at a time when consensus on many issues can no longer be taken for granted.
Within the UN system, consensus is a precious commodity that should not be broken easily.
It has truly been a privilege to serve as chair of the Committee on Information, and I wish the committee and the next chair, whoever it might be, every success in carrying this important work forward.
So this was a very long speech according to Estonian standards So thank you very much.
All on my side.
So with this this meeting is adjourned.
Thank you very much again.