DM Monitoring
NEW YORK: The UN General Assembly Saturday unanimously adopted a Pakistan-sponsored resolution that calls for multidimensional response to counter all forms of disinformation that erodes human rights.
The resolution entitled, “Countering Disinformation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,” was recommended by the 193-member Assembly’s Third Committee, which deals with social, humanitarian and cultural issues.
Co-sponsored by a large number of countries, it was the outcome of extensive consultations with all member states against the backdrop of exponential proliferation of disinformation around the world, which is exacerbating social discord, competing nationalisms, an infodemic amidst the pandemic, discrimination, hate speech, stigmatization, racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and related intolerances.
Expressing his gratification over the adoption by consensus of the resolution by the General Assembly, Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, said, “This outcome was due to the diligent efforts of our team.”
Pakistan, Ambassador Akram added, will maintain its endeavor to fully implement the resolution and combat the virus of disinformation globally in cooperation with other Member States and international organizations.
Under its terms, the resolution also highlights the negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights.
It notes with concern that Information Communication Technologies have enabled pathways for false or manipulated disinformation to be created, disseminated and amplified for political, ideological, or commercial motives at unprecedented scale, speed, and scope.
