Questions Relating to Information Resolutions

A/RES/41/68No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 74Questions relating to information, published in 1987.

What else is in this group?

77 documents · 1979–2025

Newer documents in this group exist (latest: 2025).

2025A/RES/80/84 A-BQuestions relating to information resolutionsCompare with earlier document
2024A/RES/79/93 A-BQuestions relating to information resolutionsCompare with earlier document
2023A/RES/78/80 A-BQuestions relating to information resolutionsCompare with earlier document
2022A/RES/77/128 A-BQuestions relating to information resolutionsCompare with earlier document
2021A/RES/76/84 A-BQuestions relating to information resolutionsCompare with earlier document

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What subjects does this mandate have?

16 topics

Anniversaries Appointment of Members Budget Contributions Communication Technology Communications Declarations Information Information Dissemination Information Exchange Malta Mass Media Public Information Recommendations Resources Mobilization Tariffs Telecommunications

What does this mandate say?

19 operative paragraphs

Takes note of the comprehensive report of the Com mittee on Information,29 which served as an important ba sis and stimulated further deliberations, and urges the full implementation of the following recommendations:

All countries, the United Nations system as a whole and all others concerned should co-operate in the establishment of a new world information and com munication order, seen as an evolving and continuous process, and based, inter alia, on the free circulation and wider and better balanced dissemination of infor mation, guaranteeing diversity of sources of informa tion and free access to information and, in particular,

the urgent need to change the dependent status of the developing countries in the field of information and communication, as the principle of sovereign equality among nations extends also to this field, and intended also to strengthen peace and international understand ing, enabling all persons to participate effectively in political, economic, social and cultural life and promot ing human rights, understanding and friendship among all nations. The ongoing efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,

which retains the central role in this field, to eliminate gradually the existing imbalances in the field of infor mation and communication and to encourage a free

28 A/41/562 and Add.1

flow and a wider and better balanced dissemination of information in accordance with the relevant resolutions of that organization, adopted by consensus, should be reaffirmed;

Fully aware of the important role that the media worldwide can freely play, particularly under the pres ent situation, it is recommended that:

The mass media should be encouraged to give wider coverage to the efforts of the international com munity towards global development and, in particular, the efforts of the developing countries to achieve eco nomic, social and cultural progress;

The United Nations system as a whole should co-operate in a concerted manner, through its informa tion services, in promoting a more comprehensive and realistic image of the activities and potential of the United Nations system in all its endeavours, in accor dance with the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, with particular emphasis on the creation of a climate of confidence, the strengthening of multilateral ism and the promotion of the development activities in the United Nations system;

All countries should be urged to extend assis tance to journalists for the free and effective perfor mance of their professional tasks;

Aware of the existing imbalances in the interna tional distribution of news, particularly that affecting the developing countries, it is recommended that urgent attention should be given to the elimination of existing inequalities in and all other obstacles, both internal and external, to the free flow and wider and better balanced dissemination of information, ideas and knowledge by, inter alia, diversifying the sources of information and respecting the interests, aspirations and socio-cultural values of all peoples, as a step towards the attainment of a free and more balanced flow of information;

The United Nations system as a whole, as well as £he developed countries, should be urged to co-operate m a concerted manner with the developing countries towards strengthening the information and communi cation infrastructure in the latter countries, in accor dance with the priorities attached to such areas by the developing countries, with a view to enabling them to develop their own information and communication policies freely and independently and in the light of their history, social values and cultural traditions, tak ing into account the principle of freedom of the press and information. In this regard, full support for the In ternational Programme for the Development of Com munication of the United Nations Educational Scien tific and Cultural Organization, which constit¤tes an important step in the development of these infrastruc tures, should always be emphasized;

It is recommended that the need be stressed to promote the access of the developing countries to com munication technology, including communication sa telli!es, modern electronic information systems, infor matics and other advanced information and communication facilities so that they may improve their own information and communication systems in accor dance with the specific conditions prevailing in each country;

While satisfaction is expressed with the successful co-ordination and co-operation displayed by the De partment of Public Information of the Secretariat with the News Agencies Pool of Non-Aligned Countries, as w¥II a¦ §ith regional news agencies of developing coun tnes, 1t ts recommended that the Department of Public Information continue to strengthen this co-operation as it constitutes a concrete step towards the elimination of existing inequalities;

The Department of Public Information should continue to co-operate with the United Nations Educa tional, Scientific and Cultural Organization in assisting the News Agencies Pool of Non-Aligned Countries, as well as the regional news agencies of developing coun tries, by providing them with press releases and other materials and facilities for meetings on data and com munication exchange of the public information bodies of the non-aligned countries;

It is recommended that the Department of Public Information as well as the specialized agencies of the United Nations system, should co-operate with the Eco Pool of the News Agencies Pool of Non-Aligned Coun tries, which began its operation in September 1985 in order to receive and transmit daily economic informa tion to relevant government, economic, banking and other institutions responsible for economic and social development, and which should help in promoting eco nomic co-operation with and among developing coun tries;

Reaffirming the primary role that the General As sembly is to play in elaborating, co-ordinating and har monizing United Nations policies and activities in the field of information and emphasizing the central role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the field of information and communi cation, it is recommended that the United Nations sys tem as a whole and all others concerned should be urged to give that organization adequate support and assis tance in the field of information and communication. The Department of Public Information, in particular. should co-operate more regularly with the United Na tions Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, especially at the working level, with a view to maximiz ing the contributions of the Department to the efforts of that organization in further promoting the attainment of a free and a more balanced flow of information;

( 10) Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Hu man Rights, 10 which provides that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression and that this right includes freedom to hold opinions without inter ference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers, and article 29, which stipulates that these rights and free doms may in no case be exercised contrary to the pur poses and principles of the United Nations, should be recalled;

(l l) The United Nations system, particularly the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, should aim at providing all possible sup port and assistance to the developing countries with due regard to their interests and needs in the field of infor mation and to action already adopted within the United Nations system, including, in particular:

Development of human resources as indispensa ble for the improvement of information and communi cation systems in developing countries, and support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes, such as those already operating under both public and private auspices throughout the devel oping world;

Creation of conditions that will gradually en able the developing countries to produce, by using their own resources, the communication technology suited to their national needs, as well as the necessary pro gramme material, specifically for radio and television broadcasting:

Assistance in establishing and promoting tele communication links at subregional, regional and in terregional levels, especially among developing coun tries;

The Secretary-General should be requested to ensure that the activities of the Department of Public Information, as the focal point of the public information tasks of the United Nations, are strengthened and im proved, keeping in view the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and along the lines established in the pertinent resolutions of the General Assembly and the recommendations of the Committee on Informa tion, so as to ensure an objective and more coherent cov erage of, as well as better knowledge about, the United Nations and its work, especially in its priority areas, such as those stated in section III, paragraph I, of As sembly resolution 35/201 of 16 December 1980;

The Department of Public Information should be requested to continue its co-operation with the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, as well as with intergovernmental organizations and regional organiza tions, and should monitor, as appropriate, important meetings of that Movement, as well as of intergovern mental and regional organizations, with a view to pro moting a free and more balanced flow of information;

In the light of the grave economic situation pre vailing in Africa, the Secretary-General should be re quested to ensure that the Department of Public Infor mation does its utmost in bringing to the attention of the international community the real dimensions of the plight of the African people and the tremendous efforts of the African countries, with a view to increasing its contribution to alleviating this human tragedy. In this regard, the Secretary-General should be requested to ensure that the Department of Public Information does its utmost to disseminate widely and to publicize the United Nations Programme of Action for African Eco nomic Recovery and Development 1986-1990,30

adopted by the General Assembly at its thirteenth spe cial session, on the critical economic situation in Africa, which was held from 27 May to l June 1986;

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