Mr. Chair,
At the outset, my delegation congratulates the honorable Chair, Vice Chair, and the members of the Bureau for successfully steering the 44th Session of the Committee on Information.
2. My delegation also appreciates the efforts of Ms. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communication for her skillful leadership in these extraordinary and challenging times.
Mr. Chair,
3. Pakistan aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Group of 77 and China. I would like to speak on three core issues of concern today:
4. First, in an era when fake news travels faster than the truth, it is important to discern the ways that information, online or offline, can be misunderstood
5. We appreciate the effort of the Department of Global communication (DGC) through its ‘Pause’ initiative in recognizing the threats and challenges confronted to the U.N system specifically to curb the growing practice of spreading false information.
6. Pakistan, however, expresses concerns on the exponential proliferation of fake news and disinformation especially through online platforms and social media.
7. Implementation of the GA resolution 76/227 on Countering Disinformation for the promotion and protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is our path to address that challenge.
8. The resolution notes with concern that ICTs, especially online platforms and social media, have enabled pathways for false or manipulated disinformation to be created, disseminated, and amplified for political, ideological, or commercial motives at unprecedented scale, speed, and scope.
9. The disinformation operations via cyber-meddling did not stop after EU Disinfo Lab’s groundbreaking revelations and comprehensive evidence of targeting the UN bodies, its member states, core institutions and core values.
Driven by an ambition to malign and diplomatically isolate ‘enemy’ through all means necessary, some countries have started to compromise their own intellectual credibility and journalistic ideals. The issue of fake news and disinformation in this context therefore warrants UN’s urgent attention.
10. It is also important that business enterprises, including online platforms and social media companies, ensure that their commercial objectives do not undermine human rights and they must not allow their platforms to be used for spreading disinformation, which leads to discrimination, incitement to hatred, hostility, violence, and polarization.
11. As part of any future digital compact, we also must optimize the opportunities to defend against the misuse of online platforms, which cannot be achieved without inclusive international cooperation among all stakeholders.
12. As a responsible Member State, Pakistan is committed to countering the virus of disinformation by all possible means. We shall continue to promote this by both national means and through international cooperation with Member States and other stakeholders under the umbrella of the United Nations.
Mr. Chair,
13. The Second issue of concern is achieving Linguistic diversity. Multilingualism is an enabler of multilateral diplomacy.
14. The Department of Global Communications of the Secretariat must continue to enhance its capacity to provide, through its outreach activities, accurate, impartial, comprehensive, balanced, timely, relevant, and multilingual information to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization with the greatest transparency.
15. My delegation also welcomes promotional campaigns and initiatives of the Department of Global Communications highlighting troop-and police-contributing countries. Their contributions are vital for international peace and stability. The Department must also continue their cooperation in raising awareness of the successes and challenges faced by peacekeeping operations, especially multidimensional and complex ones, in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding efforts.
Mr. Chair,
16. Lastly, the spread of Islamophobia, both in terms of its momentum and outreach, is particularly alarming these days, for it has emerged as a new form of racism characterized by xenophobia, negative profiling, and stereotyping of Muslims.
17. Islamophobia is a reality. Its manifestations - hate speech, discrimination, and violence against Muslims- are proliferating in several parts of the world. Such acts of discrimination, hostility and violence towards Muslim individuals and communities constitute grave violations of their human rights and their religion freedoms and beliefs.
18. Despite its pervasive impacts, Islamophobia remains poorly understood and discussions on how to address the impacts are often fraught and complex. but it is essential to promote greater understanding of this phenomena through greater understanding and full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
19. We urge DGC to raise international awareness about the growing phenomenon of Islamophobia and other forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, negative stereotyping, and stigmatization to promote the message of tolerance, peaceful co-existence and interfaith and cultural harmony among all religions, races, and nations.
20. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my delegation’s full support to the Department of Global Communications. We also assure you of our full cooperation during the course of this Session of the Committee.
Ends.
