United Nations Mandate Source RegistryBeta Version
UN Secretariat MandatesUN System Mandates
United Nations (opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Donate (opens in new tab)
  • A-Z Site Index (opens in new tab)
  • Contact (opens in new tab)
  • Copyright (opens in new tab)
  • FAQ (opens in new tab)
  • Fraud Alert (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy Notice (opens in new tab)
  • Terms of Use (opens in new tab)

Questions Relating to Information

A/RES/52/70No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 89Questions relating to information, published in 1998.

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

This group bundles related documents that are not individually ordered.

iGrouped automatically by matching titles within the same organ.

What subjects does this mandate have?

10 topics
Communication PolicyFreedom of InformationFreedom of the PressInformation DisseminationInformation PolicyInformation TechnologyJournalistsMass MediaPublic InformationTraining Programmes

What does this mandate say?

19 operative paragraphs

A

Urges all countries, organizations of the United Nations system as a whole and all others concerned, reaffirming their commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to the principles of freedom of the press and freedom of information, as well as to those of the independence, pluralism and diversity of the media, deeply concerned by the disparities existing between developed and developing countries and the consequences of every kind arising from those disparities that affect the capability of the public, private or other media and individuals in developing countries to disseminate information and communicate their views and their cultural and ethical values through endogenous cultural production, as well as to ensure the diversity of sources and their free access to information, and recognizing the call in this context for what in the United Nations and at various international forums has been termed "a new world information and communication order, seen as an evolving and continuous process":
a
To cooperate and interact with a view to reducing existing disparities in information flows at all levels by increasing assistance for the development of communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries, with due regard for their needs and the priorities attached to such areas by those countries, and in order to enable them and the public, private or other media in developing countries to develop their own information and communication policies freely and independently and increase the participation of media and individuals in the communication process, and to ensure a free flow of information at all levels;
b
To ensure for journalists the free and effective performance of their professional tasks and condemn resolutely all attacks against them;
c
To provide support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from public, private and other media in developing countries;
d
To enhance regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries, to strengthen communication capacities and to improve the media infrastructure and communication technology in the developing countries, especially in the areas of training and dissemination of information;
e
To aim, in addition to bilateral cooperation, at providing all possible support and assistance to the developing countries and their media, public, private or other, with due regard to their interests and needs in the field of information and to action already adopted within the United Nations system, including:
i
The development of the human and technical resources that are indispensable for the improvement of information and communication 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 developing world;
ii
The creation of conditions that will enable developing countries and their media, public, private or other, to have, by using their national and regional resources, the communication technology suited to their national needs, as well as the necessary programme material, especially for radio and television broadcasting;
iii
Assistance in establishing and promoting telecommunication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels, especially among developing countries;
iv
The facilitation, as appropriate, of access by the developing countries to advanced communication technology available on the open market;
f
To provide full support for the International Programme for the Development of Communication of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which should support both public and private media.

B

1
Takes note of the report of the Committee on Information;1
2
Notes that the Committee on Information was unable to finish its task during its nineteenth session;
3
Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on questions relating to information;2
4
Also takes note of the report of the Task Force on the Reorientation of United Nations Public Information Activities;
5
Requests the Secretary-General to continue to implement already mandated activities;
6
Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twentieth session, and to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session, on United Nations public information activities and on the implementation of the measures regarding information and communications approved by the Assembly;
7
Requests the Committee on Information to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session;
8
Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-third session the item entitled "Questions relating to information".

iParagraph content is machine-extracted from UN documents. For authoritative content, please refer to the official UN document.

Table of contents