Review and reappraisal of United Nations information policies and activities

XXVI. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE
2897. Review and reappraisal of United Nations information policies and activities

The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the review and reappraisal of United Nations information policies and activities,[1] the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions[2] and the relevant statements made in the Fifth Committee by the representatives of the Secretary-General, Reaffirming its resolutions 13 (I) of 13 February 1946 and 595 (VI) of 4 February 1952 and subsequent resolutions on public information in the United Nations, Bearing in mind that various United Nations bodies make recommendations on policy guidelines related to information in their area of concern, Reaffirming the importance of United Nations information centres as appropriate instruments for informing the peoples of the world about the Organization's objectives and activities, Stressing the need for maintaining central control and direction in the implementation of information policies and guidelines,

1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the review and reappraisal of United Nations information policies and activities;

2. Decides that the basic principles laid down in General Assembly resolution 13 (I) and confirmed in resolution 595 (VI) do not need to be revised, amended or enlarged and that they should continue to be applied, subject to such directives as the Assembly has already given or may give from time to time;

3. Approves the Secretary-General's proposals for the acquisition and replacement of equipment for 1972, as set out in annex I of the addendum to his report,[3] and decides to consider at the twenty-seventh session the balance of the Secretary-General's programme of future acquisition and replacement;

4. Endorses the proposals contained in subparagraphs 261 (iii), (iv), (viii), (x), (xii) and (xiv) of the Secretary-General's report;[4]

5. Approves in principle the Secretary-General's proposal on the establishment of a regional production bureau[5] and decides to consider all aspects of its implementation at the twenty-seventh session;

6. Recommends that the Secretary-General, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 1405 (XIV) of 1 December 1959, should review the composition of the Consultative Panel on Public Information to ensure that it reflects the present situation in the United Nations, and requests the Secretary-General to convene the Panel before the twenty-seventh session to advise him on the information policies and activities of the United Nations;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to ascertain the publicity and promotional needs of the various bodies of the United Nations which undertake universal causes approved by the General Assembly, in order that those needs may be taken into account when considering the budgetary requirements for the Office of Public Information for 1973 and subsequent years;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to appoint to the United Nations information centres highly qualified Professional staff in the field of information, who should give their undivided attention to the dissemination of information and the building of public support for United Nations activities, particularly in the economic, social and political fields;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to eliminate any shortcomings that may persist in the formulation and execution of information programmes and activities, particularly in the economic and social fields;

10. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure the allocation of adequate resources effectively to meet additional needs in the information activities of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the ‘United Nations Industrial Development Organization during the Second United Nations Development Decade;

11. Takes note of the Secretary-General's statement of 16 November 1971[6] and requests him, bearing in mind the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolutions 13 (I) of 13 February 1946, 595 (VI) of 4 February 1952 and 2567 (XXIV) of 13 December 1969, to review the present administrative arrangements for the Centre for Economic and Social Information and to reorganize the Office of Public Information with a view to ensuring central control and direction in the implementation of information policies and guidelines and thereby enabling the Office to carry out its mandate more effectively;

12. Recommends to the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme, when it considers at its thirteenth session the Administrator's proposal on the Development Support Information Service, that it should entrust as many as possible of its information activities to the United Nations and other executing agencies;

13. Requests me Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its twenty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution.

2031st plenary meeting,
22 December 1971.

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[1] A/C.5/1320/Rev.1 and Add.1. [2] Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 8A (A/8408/Add.1-30), document A/8408/Add.4. [3] A/C.5/1320/Rev.1/Add.1. [4] A/C.5/1320/Rev.1. [5] Ibid., para. 216. [6] See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-sixth Session, Fifth Committee, 1456th meeting, paras. 11-16.