Committee on Information adopts 57 recommendations after considering three sets of proposals.

• Position: Establishment of new world information and communication order

Committee on Information adopts 57 recommendations after considering three sets of proposals

The Committee on Information on7 July adopted 57 recommendations dealing with various aspects of the establishment of a new world information and communication order and the work of the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The set of recommendations wasadopted by a roll-call vote of 41 in favour to 11 against (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, United States), with 5 abstentions (Burundi, Greece, Nigeria, Spain, Turkey). Put forward by the Group of 77 developing countries, they are to be considered in the General Assembly's Special Political Committee later in the year.

Following a long procedural debate,the 69-member Committee, which met at Headquarters from 23 June to 7 July, decided to annex to its report to the Assembly the texts of draft recommendations submitted by a group of Western European and other States and by a group of socialist States of Eastern Europe. The former group comprised Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, while the latter was composed of Bulgaria, German Democratic Republic, Poland, Ukrainian SSR and USSR. It was agreed that the report would indicate that there had been no agreement on either of the texts, and that the sponsors had not asked that action be taken on them.

Another recommendation wouldhave the Assembly note ongoing efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to contribute to the clarification, elaboration and application of the concept of a new world information order. In that regard, the Assembly would recall consensus resolutions 4/19, 3.1 and 3.1 adopted by UNESCO's General Conference in 1980, 1983 and 1985 respectively.

Committee Chairman WilliSchlegel (German Democratic Republic) told the body that there could be no new world information and communication order unless the peoples' right to seek, receive and impart information was implemented, nor could there be any order unless the right of every human being to educate himself comprehensively and to be informed was put into practice. A new order did not mean curbing the activities of the media or of journalists.

Active participation in the exchangeof information, access to the media and diversity of sources of information remained key elements of the new order to be established. But it was equally true that freedom must not be seen divorced from obligation. Their exercise must be in conformity with the generally recognized norms of international law. Truthfulness and a sense of responsibility were, therefore, indispensable criteria of any information activity. It was necessary to harness the great potential of the mass media in the effort to create an atmosphere of trust between States and peoples. More funds should be allocated to UNESCO's International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).

Yasushi Akashi, Under-Secretary-Generalfor Public Information, told the Committee that the stringent economy measures taken by the United Nations as a result of its financial crisis had hit DPI hard, compelling it to re-examine its priorities and forcing it to reassess the effectiveness of its programmes and activities. Since public perceptions of the Organization's effectivness were a factor behind the financial crisis, it seemed to him short-sighted to cut information activities at this time. Nevertheless, instead of bemoaning its plight, DPI had endeavoured to turn adversity...