Statement by H.E. Ambassador OSUGA Takeshi, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, at the 43rd Session of the Committee on Information
2021/4/26
Mr. Chair,
Let me to begin by congratulating you, Ambassador Cristian Espinosa of Ecuador for assuming the new Chair. I wish to thank Ambassador Omar Hilale of Morocco for his dedicated work in steering the Committee over the past two years. I also wish to extend my gratitude to Ms. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Global Communications, for her informative briefing.
Mr. Chair,
COVID-19 has proven to be one of the greatest challenge to human security, threatening the life, livelihood and dignity of all individuals around the world. It has drastically altered the modus operandi of communication by depending more on virtual, on-line and cyber-space interactions using digital technology and much less on direct human contacts. There are merits and demerits. By replacing in-person meetings with online meetings and webinars, you might save the budget and still have more meetings and participants. However, the intensity of contacts and the depth of mutual understanding are doomed to wither, increasing the risk of miscommunication.
Since the shutdown of the United Nations headquarters 13 months ago, the Permanent Missions and the Secretariat have struggled to navigate themselves through online meetings, while preserving the added value of the work of the United Nations. Japan commends the efforts of the Department of Global Communications to continue connecting with people around the locked-down world with accurate and reliable information on the UN’s work.
Mr. Chair,
This vital task of the Department cannot be achieved without the global network of UN Information Centres, providing information on UN activities in local languages. They are instrumental in reaching out directly to the people of the Member States and telling human stories on the work of the UN as well as the values the Organization embodies.
I wish to commend, in this respect, UNIC Tokyo, as the only outpost of the Secretariat in Japan, for keeping the Japanese public informed about the efforts of the UN system as a whole during the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. Since before the pandemic, UNIC Tokyo has been instrumental in mobilizing Japanese public, including the corporate sector, around the SDGs and the concept of “leaving no one behind.”
Last but not least, I would like to emphasize the importance of the UN system “delivering as one”, not only its assistance but also its messages at the country level. In programme countries, Japan expects UNIC will operate in an integrated manner with the Resident Coordinator Office and the UN country team to ensure coherent and strategic communication in the respective country. The same applies to UNICs in non-programme countries including Japan where RCs do not exist. The need of “delivering messages as one” is in no way less important in those countries as well. Relevant UNIC office should be empowered as necessary.
To conclude, let me assure you, Mr. Chair, that Japan is fully committed to working with the members of this committee and the Department of Global Communications in a constructive manner throughout this session.
Thank you.
Let me to begin by congratulating you, Ambassador Cristian Espinosa of Ecuador for assuming the new Chair. I wish to thank Ambassador Omar Hilale of Morocco for his dedicated work in steering the Committee over the past two years. I also wish to extend my gratitude to Ms. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Global Communications, for her informative briefing.
Mr. Chair,
COVID-19 has proven to be one of the greatest challenge to human security, threatening the life, livelihood and dignity of all individuals around the world. It has drastically altered the modus operandi of communication by depending more on virtual, on-line and cyber-space interactions using digital technology and much less on direct human contacts. There are merits and demerits. By replacing in-person meetings with online meetings and webinars, you might save the budget and still have more meetings and participants. However, the intensity of contacts and the depth of mutual understanding are doomed to wither, increasing the risk of miscommunication.
Since the shutdown of the United Nations headquarters 13 months ago, the Permanent Missions and the Secretariat have struggled to navigate themselves through online meetings, while preserving the added value of the work of the United Nations. Japan commends the efforts of the Department of Global Communications to continue connecting with people around the locked-down world with accurate and reliable information on the UN’s work.
Mr. Chair,
This vital task of the Department cannot be achieved without the global network of UN Information Centres, providing information on UN activities in local languages. They are instrumental in reaching out directly to the people of the Member States and telling human stories on the work of the UN as well as the values the Organization embodies.
I wish to commend, in this respect, UNIC Tokyo, as the only outpost of the Secretariat in Japan, for keeping the Japanese public informed about the efforts of the UN system as a whole during the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. Since before the pandemic, UNIC Tokyo has been instrumental in mobilizing Japanese public, including the corporate sector, around the SDGs and the concept of “leaving no one behind.”
Last but not least, I would like to emphasize the importance of the UN system “delivering as one”, not only its assistance but also its messages at the country level. In programme countries, Japan expects UNIC will operate in an integrated manner with the Resident Coordinator Office and the UN country team to ensure coherent and strategic communication in the respective country. The same applies to UNICs in non-programme countries including Japan where RCs do not exist. The need of “delivering messages as one” is in no way less important in those countries as well. Relevant UNIC office should be empowered as necessary.
To conclude, let me assure you, Mr. Chair, that Japan is fully committed to working with the members of this committee and the Department of Global Communications in a constructive manner throughout this session.
Thank you.