UNITED NATIONS :Pakistan was formally elected as chairman of the UN Committee on Information (COI), a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, for a two-year term (2023-24), with a pledge to promote fact-based information and fight against the spread of misinformation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must combat hate speech,\u201d Ambassador Aamir Khan, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told COI\u2019s 45th annual session on Monday, pointing out that bad actors were misusing digitalized platforms spawning social unrest and tensions within and among societies.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Aamir Khan took over the chairmanship of the Committee on Information on behalf of Pakistan from Ecuador. It is the second time Pakistan has served the Committee as chairman. Over the past couple of years, Mariam Shaikh, press counsellor at the Pakistan Mission to the UN, played an active role in the Committee, which examines the UN\u2019s public information policies and activities.<\/p>\n
In his opening statement, the Pakistani envoy called for building a system that is cohesive appreciates diversity and enhances the understanding of the principles of the UN Charter.<\/p>\n
\u201cBridging the digital divide and achieving universal connectivity by ensuring access to broadband and data for all is critical,\u201d Aamir Khan said, adding it will enable people to make informed decisions and contribute to the building of inclusive, peaceful, and just societies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is the cure to the pandemic of disinformation and hate speech.\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Highlighting the triple-crisis \u2013 the COVID-19 pandemic, the existential threat caused by climate change and the inter-related shocks to food, fuel and finance \u2014 the world is facing, Aamir Khan said COI\u2019s role in combating these challenges by ensuring accurate and timely information was critical.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we must persevere and renew our commitment to meeting these goals despite challenges posed by Covid-19\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also called for confronting the existential threat of climate change, recalling the catastrophic flood in Pakistan last year, the terrible earthquake hitting Turkiye and Syria this year and the threat posed by rising sea water and desertification are its serious manifestations.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur information systems should promote the exchange of information and best practices to accelerate the bold climate action\u201d he urged.<\/p>\n
Aamir Khan also underscored the need for a technological divide and the lack of access by developing countries to reliable, factual, and multilingual information.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must address these gaps and create a fair, equitable and resilient global information landscape\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He recalled Pakistan\u2019s initiative in the General Assembly, for the first time, adopted resolution 76\/227 entitled \u201cCountering Disinformation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms\u201d, on 24 December 2021.<\/p>\n
Later, \u2018Group of Friends\u2019 on Countering Disinformation was launched to advance the multidimensional response to counter all forms of disinformation, including in the context of the Covid-19 Pandemic.<\/p>\n
Last Year, as G-77 (developing countries) Chair, Pakistan played a productive role in bringing a consensus-based resolution in the Committee on Information.<\/p>\n
He also welcomed the new Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur of the Committee as well as new member- Estonia admitted to the Committee on Information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS :Pakistan was formally elected as chairman of the UN Committee on Information (COI), a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, for a two-year term (2023-24), with a pledge to promote fact-based information and fight against the spread of misinformation. \u201cWe must combat hate speech,\u201d Ambassador Aamir Khan, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":327403,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-327400","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n