Opening of the session

The session was opened by the Chair of the Committee.

Election of officers

At its organizational session in 1980, the Committee reached an agreement according to which the principle of geographical rotation would be applied to all officers of the Committee, who would be elected for two-year terms. At the beginning of its thirty-ninth session, the Committee elected a Chair, two Vice-Chairs and a Rapporteur to serve for the subsequent two years. At the beginning of its fortieth session, the Committee considered filling the vacancy for the remaining Vice-Chair for a one-year term.

Adoption of the agenda and programme of work

The provisional agenda has been prepared on the basis of consultations among the members of the Bureau of the Committee.

Admission of new members

The Committee considered requests for membership in the Committee.

Statement by the Chair

The Chair addressed the Committee at its opening meeting.

Statement by the Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Global Communications

The Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Ms. Alison Smale, addressed the Committee at its opening meeting to provide an update on the activities of the Department of Public Information and to report on the implementation of the recommendations contained in General Assembly resolutions 72/90 A and B.

Read the USG's opening remarks: English | Multilingual

Informal interactive meeting of the Committee

An informal interactive meeting of the Committee was held at 3 p.m. to allow members of the Committee to exchange ideas with, and pose questions to, the senior management of the Department of Public Information.

Continuation of the General debate

Consideration of reports submitted by the Secretary-General

• Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Department of Public Information: strategic communications services (A/AC.198/2018/2)
• Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Department of Public Information: news services (A/AC.198/2018/3)
• Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Department of Public Information: outreach services (A/AC.198/2018/4)

Read the USG's closing remarks 

Open-ended working group of the Committee on Information

The Secretariat requires a 48-hour period to process the draft report of the Committee in all official languages.

Consideration and adoption of the report of the Committee to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session.