HIGHLIGHTS OF THE U.N. SYSTEM
MONDAY, 24 JUNE 2024
SECRETARY-GENERAL PRESS ENCOUNTER ON GLOBAL PRINCIPLES FOR INFORMATION INTEGRITY
Good afternoon, distinguished members of the media.
The spread of hatred and lies online is causing grave harm to our world.
Misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are fueling prejudice and violence; exacerbating divisions and conflicts; demonizing minorities; and compromising the integrity of elections.
Today, I am pleased to present a starting point for solutions: the United Nations Global Principles for Information Integrity.
These five principles – [societal] trust and resilience; independent, free, and pluralistic media; healthy incentives; transparency and research; and public empowerment – are based on an overriding vision of a more humane [information] ecosystem.
They call for an information environment that champions human rights and a sustainable future.
And they provide a solid foundation for sustainable, inclusive development, climate action, democracy, and peace.
Dear members of the media,
Threats to information integrity are not new, but they are proliferating and expanding with unprecedented speed on digital platforms, supercharged by AI technologies.
Science, facts, human rights, public health and climate action are under attack.
And when information integrity is targeted, so is democracy – which depends on a shared, fact-based perception of reality.
False narratives, distortions and lies breed cynicism, disbelief and disengagement. They undermine social cohesion, putting the Sustainable Development Goals further out of reach.
Opaque algorithms push people into information bubbles and reinforce prejudices including racism, misogyny and discrimination of all kinds.
Women, refugees, migrants, and minorities are common targets.
Activists, advocates, researchers, scientists, and leaders are harassed and humiliated.
The damage goes far beyond the digital realm, affecting billions of people who are not connected to the internet.
Lives are at stake when lies are spread about vaccines and other medical issues.
The United Nations’ own operations and missions are compromised, as our staff deal with a tsunami of falsehoods and absurd conspiracy theories.
Distinguished members of the media, dear friends,
The United Nations Global Principles for Information Integrity are the result of broad consultations with Member States, with youth leaders, academia, civil society, the private sector including tech companies, and you – the media.
Those consultations showed that much of the world shares our deep concern and is searching for solutions.
The Global Principles lay out a clear path forward, firmly rooted in human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and opinion.
I urge governments, the tech sector, and other stakeholders to listen to your people and your customers – and to respond.
Some stakeholders carry an outsized responsibility. For them, I have a clear message: We demand action.
First, to the big tech companies - take responsibility. Acknowledge the damage your products are inflicting on people and communities.
You have the power to mitigate harm to people and societies around the world.
You have the power to change business models that profit from disinformation and hate.
Second, to advertisers and the PR industry:
Stop monetizing harmful content.
Strengthen information integrity; protect your brand; boost your bottom line.
The climate crisis is a cause of particular concern. Coordinated disinformation campaigns are seeking to undermine climate action.
Creatives - don’t use your talents to greenwash.
PR agencies – look for clients who aren’t misleading people and destroying our planet.
Third, my message to media outlets is:
Raise and enforce editorial standards.
Do your part to safeguard our future by providing quality journalism based on facts and reality.
Find advertisers who are part of the solution, not the problem.
And finally, I say to governments:
Commit to creating and maintaining a free, viable, independent, and plural media landscape.
Guarantee strong protections for journalists.
Ensure regulations uphold human rights.
Refrain from drastic measures, including blanket internet shutdowns.
Respect the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
Let me be very clear:
Everyone should be able to express themselves freely without fear of attack.
Everyone should be able to access a range of views and information sources.
No one should be at the mercy of an algorithm they don’t control, which was not designed to safeguard their interests, and which tracks their behaviour to collect personal data and keep them hooked.
Dear members of the media,
These principles aim to empower people to demand their rights.
They support parents, anxious for their children.
Young people, whose future relies on information integrity.
Civil society and academia, who are pushing for change.
And public interest media, striving to convey reliable and accurate information.
The UN hears your calls for guidance and support.
Don’t lose heart – raise your voices.
Demand accountability; demand choice; demand control.
You are the majority. And this is a fight we can win – together.
Thank you.
DAGESTAN, RUSSIA
The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms Sunday’s terrorist attacks against Jewish and Christian religious sites and members of the security forces in the Republic of Dagestan of the Russian Federation, in which at least 20 people were reportedly killed, and dozens of others injured.
The Secretary-General conveys his condolences to the bereaved families and the people and the Government of the Russian Federation and wishes those injured a speedy recovery.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that access constraints and security concerns continue to hinder efforts to scale up food and nutrition assistance in Gaza, affecting hundreds of thousands of people in need. The inability of humanitarian agencies to consistently and safely transport aid commodities from the Kerem Shalom crossing, combined with the continued closure of Rafah crossing, has compounded the challenges facing aid operations.
OCHA reports that, as of Sunday, fewer than half of 86 coordinated humanitarian missions to northern Gaza planned for this month were facilitated by Israeli authorities. More than a quarter were impeded, 12 per cent were denied access, and 12 per cent were canceled due to logistical, operational or security reasons.
In one incident on Sunday, a humanitarian mission returning to southern Gaza - after delivering fuel and medical supplies to Gaza city in the north - was delayed for more than 13 hours at an Israeli military checkpoint, putting the convoy in danger of being caught in crossfire.
OCHA says planned humanitarian missions requiring coordination to areas in southern Gaza also continue to face impediments and access denials.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that more than 10,000 people need medical evacuations outside Gaza. Earlier today, the WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, appealed for their sustained medical evacuation and timely passage via all possible routes.
Paediatric patients are among those who need to leave Gaza for specialized care. On Sunday, WHO and partners transferred five of these patients – four with cancer and one with second-degree burns – from Al-Ahli hospital to Nasser Medical Complex, where they will continue to receive care until they can depart Gaza.
The team also delivered medical supplies to cover the health needs of some 20,000 patients at Al-Ahli and As-Sahaba hospitals, as well as 19,000 litres of fuel.
SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, James Swan, the Acting Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) briefed the Security Council on the situation in the country. He noted that Somalia continues to pursue its key national priorities, including the #constitutional review process, and the fight against Al-Shabaab.
Mr. Swan said that security remains a top priority for the Government of Somalia. As the Federal Government of Somalia and the African Union discuss post-2024 security planning, Mr. Swan appealed to all partners to ensure predictable and sustainable financing for the follow-on arrangements as well as the necessary resources for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, which continues to face critical funding shortfalls.
Mr. Swan also warned that the humanitarian situation in Somalia remains dire. He said that while the number of people in need of assistance has reduced from 8.3 million in 2023 to 6.9 million in 2024, climatic events, insecurity and disease outbreaks have continued to worsen humanitarian needs.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is in Beijing today meeting with Government officials, including Ma Zhaoxu, Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss UN-China cooperation, especially in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Summit of the Future. She also met with the diplomatic corps before traveling to Dalian, where she will co-host the World Economic Forum Annual meeting of the New Champions 2024.
UKRAINE
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that according to humanitarian partners on the ground, on 22 June, several attacks on Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine, struck residential areas, damaging an apartment block, dozens of houses, an education facility and public transport. According to authorities, more than 60 civilians – including children – were killed or injured.
Complementing the efforts of first responders, humanitarian partners provided medical and psychological assistance, food and blankets, among other supplies.
OCHA notes that strikes have also impacted energy facilities in several regions in the west and southeast of Ukraine, causing additional power cuts on top of previously scheduled outages, according to authorities and partners on the ground.
Meanwhile, today, explosions damaged warehouses and reportedly injured several civilians in Odesa City, in the south of Ukraine, according to authorities and partners on the ground. UN partners are distributing materials to cover the damage for the families whose apartments nearby were damaged by the blast wave.
PEACEBUILDING DAY
On 23 June, 18 years ago, the UN Peacebuilding Commission was created. It has since supported over 30 countries in their efforts to build and sustain peace.
In a message to mark the anniversary – also known as peacebuilding day - the Secretary-General said there is no higher calling than the pursuit of peace. It requires the timeless tools of dialogue, diplomacy and negotiation. It requires focusing on prevention, as called for in the New Agenda for Peace, to build trust, heal divisions, spur development, and stem the tide of violence in communities before it spins out of control.
On this important day, the Secretary-General said, the United Nations family salutes the tireless women and men around the world who are building strong foundations of peace for today and tomorrow.
WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY
Today is the International Day of Women in Diplomacy. Women bring immense benefits to diplomacy. Their leadership styles, expertise and priorities broaden the scope of issues under consideration and the quality of outcomes.
