Information Meeting with Permanent Delegates outlines future UNESCO communication and information activities
13-09-2010 (Paris)
Jānis Kārkliņš, UNESCO's
Assistant Director-General for
Communication and Information
© UNESCO
More than 100 Ambassadors and Permanent Delegates to UNESCO attended the Information Meeting organized by the Communication and Information (CI) Sector last week at UNESCO Headquarters. The purpose of the meeting was to inform the Member States on the activities of the Sector and engage in dialogue on the Sector’s work.
UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Jānis Kārkliņš, welcomed the Delegates and presented the CI Sector, its programmes, strategy and structure. He outlined the overall goal of the Sector work: to build inclusive, pluralistic, equitable and open knowledge societies through communication and information. This goal can be achieved by empowering people through the free flow of ideas and access to information and knowledge.
In his address, Mr Kārkliņš reminded participants of the CI flagship projects through which the Sector assists UNESCO Member States in the achievement of internationally agreed development goals and commitments:
World Press Freedom Day and Prize,
International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC),
UNESCO Media Development Indicators,
Centres of Excellence in Journalism Education,
Memory of the World Programme,
World Digital Library,
WSIS follow-up and implementation,
Use of ICT in education and science, and
Information for All Programme (IFAP).
The Delegates were informed that during the next 12-18 months the accent in CI’s activities will be placed on enhanced engagement with Member States, increased cooperation with other Sectors and search for extra-budgetary funds. Gender issues, freedom of expression, community media and Memory of the World will remain the core activities of the Sector, which will also focus its work on strengthening ethical and professional standards in journalism, revisiting the UNESCO Charter on the Preservation of Digital Heritage, and streamlining WSIS follow-up and implementation.
The CI Directors, Mogens Schmidt, Wijayananda Jayaweera and Indrajit Banerjee, made presentations about the work of their respective Divisions.
The meeting ended up with a questions-and-answers session, during which the Delegates showed a vivid interest for UNESCO’s communication and information activities and expressed a wish for such meetings to be organized on a regular basis.
Links to presentations and videos:
Presentation by Jānis Kārkliņš, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information (PowerPoint)
Presentation by Mogens Schmidt, Deputy Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, and Director of the Division for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace (PowerPoint)
Presentation by Wijayananda Jayaweera, Director of the Communication Development Division (PowerPoint)
Presentation by Indrajit Banerjee, Director of the Information Society Division (PowerPoint)
Meeting recording (English, video)
Meeting recording (French, video)
In his address, Mr Kārkliņš reminded participants of the CI flagship projects through which the Sector assists UNESCO Member States in the achievement of internationally agreed development goals and commitments:
The Delegates were informed that during the next 12-18 months the accent in CI’s activities will be placed on enhanced engagement with Member States, increased cooperation with other Sectors and search for extra-budgetary funds. Gender issues, freedom of expression, community media and Memory of the World will remain the core activities of the Sector, which will also focus its work on strengthening ethical and professional standards in journalism, revisiting the UNESCO Charter on the Preservation of Digital Heritage, and streamlining WSIS follow-up and implementation.
The CI Directors, Mogens Schmidt, Wijayananda Jayaweera and Indrajit Banerjee, made presentations about the work of their respective Divisions.
The meeting ended up with a questions-and-answers session, during which the Delegates showed a vivid interest for UNESCO’s communication and information activities and expressed a wish for such meetings to be organized on a regular basis.
Links to presentations and videos:
Delegates attending the meeting© UNESCO
Ivan Avila Belloso, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Delegation of Venezuela to UNESCO, with Jānis Kārkliņš© UNESCO
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· About the Sector
· Activities by themes
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