PH Ambassador to the United Nations Advocates for Power of Information towards promotion of Peace, Inclusivity and Development
Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo during the 43rd Session of the Committee on Information, 26 April 2021. (Photo from NYPM)
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 27 April 2021 – Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo advocated for the harnessing of the power of information to promote peace, inclusivity and development in partnership with key stakeholders such as civil society, private sector and the media during the General Debate of the 43rd Session of the Committee on Information held at the UNHQ on 26 April 2021, where the Philippines was elected as one of the Vice Chairs of the Committee for the first time in over a decade, and will serve from 2021 to 2023.
“Whether through national ownership or community-driven initiatives, the Philippines believes that the core task of information is to provide a platform of opportunities to effect transformational change and ensure that no one is left behind especially under extraordinary circumstances,” said Ambassador Manalo highlighting Philippine’s support to the work of the Committee and the Department of Global Communications (DGC).
Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming of the Department of Global Communications also delivered a statement during the session where she underscored that “using the Global Communications Strategy as guide, the Department created Verified, a global, multilingual initiative to combat misinformation and ignorance by working with partners to share trusted, science-based information and stories of solidarity about COVID-19. She added that “this includes the #OnlyTogether campaign, Verified’s initiative to promote global vaccine equity, where we have received direct social media support from representatives of more than 60 Member States.” The Philippines is one of the Member States that signed on to the #OnlyTogether campaign.
Currently, the Committee has 119 Member States and Observers. The 43rd Session of the Committee will conclude on 07 May 2021 where Committee Members are expected to adopt by consensus, at the Committee level, the draft annual resolutions A and B on the “Questions relating to information.” END
For full text of Ambassador Manalo’s statement, please visit https://bit.ly/3tWlpwV