SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION (FOURTH COMMITTEE): QUESTIONS RELATING TO INFORMATION [ITEM 52]
REMARKS BY GABRIELLE LYONS, SENIOR ADVISOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, PERMANENT MISSION OF AUSTRALIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS ON BEHALF OF CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (CANZ)
04 November 2024
As delivered
Thank you Chair,
I am honoured to speak today on behalf of Canada, New Zealand, and my own country Australia (CANZ).
Let me start by thanking Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming for encouraging the continuation of these conversations.
Our countries share the Secretary-General’s deep concerns regarding the spread of misinformation and disinformation, as outlined in his 2024 report on questions relating to information.
As the digital media landscape continues to expand, users engage with media, news, content and information in new, creative and, unfortunately in some circumstances, harmful ways.
All states, irrespective of Government, have a responsibility to promote and fulfill human rights essential to upholding information integrity.
This includes the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information regardless of frontiers.
But this is not simply a challenge for Governments. We need whole-of-society solutions.
We must build resilience in our societies. Industry and online platforms must employ business practices that contribute to a healthy information ecosystem online.
Misinformation and disinformation erode public trust, hinder global peace and security, disrupt crisis responses, and ultimately undermines the foundation of a well-informed and resilient global community.
When misinformation replaces truth, it is harder for nations to work together to address global challenges such as humanitarian crises, climate change, and conflict.
And it challenges the UN’s ability to deliver on its mandates.
CANZ shares the Secretary-General’s view that safeguarding information integrity is essential for fostering peace, stability, and sustainable development.
Chair,
This September, Member states came together to adopt the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact… and agreed to implement a robust risk mitigation and redress process to create safe and secure online ecosystems.
These commitments will enhance resilience against the harmful impacts of mis- and disinformation.
CANZ fully supports the initiatives outlined by the Working Group on Information Integrity that promote accurate and verified information as a foundation to championing human rights, peaceful societies, and a sustainable future.
We urge the newly developed Central Information Integrity team to consider the adoption of clear, transparent editorial policies to guide the distribution of media and information, aligning with principles of accuracy, accountability, and inclusivity.
Further, we urge the UN to ensure that all people, especially marginalised and underserved communities, have equal access to information.
We once again wish to thank UN Global Communications and the Secretary General for championing the importance of multilingualism in the dissemination of content across UN websites and social media platforms.
Inclusion and accessibility must remain at the heart of our combined efforts to bridge the digital divide.
In closing, CANZ reaffirms our commitment to promoting a global information environment that fosters understanding, reduces harm, and upholds peace and security.
CANZ supports the UN in advancing a future where information integrity is paramount, where access to information is universal, and where all people can make decisions based on truth and trust.
Thank you.