Information in the Service of Humanity

A/RES/55/136[A]View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 87 Questions relating to information, published in 2001.

What other versions does this mandate have?

30 versions · 1997–2025

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/80/84[A]

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2025	A/RES/80/84[A]	Information in the service of humanity	—	—
2024	A/RES/79/93[A]	Information in the service of humanity	—	—
2023	A/RES/78/80[A]	Information in the service of humanity	—	—
2022	A/RES/77/128[A]	Information in the service of humanity	—	—
2021	A/RES/76/84[A]	Information in the service of humanity	—	—

Which reports were submitted under this mandate?

3 reports · 2014–2017

Year	Symbol	Title	Mandate resolution
2017	A/AC.198/2017/3	Activities of the Department of Public Information news services : report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/71/101 [A]
2016	A/AC.198/2016/3	Activities of the Department of Public Information news services : report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/70/93[A]
2014	A/AC.198/2014/2	Activities of the Department of Public Information strategic communications services : report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/68/86[A]

What subjects does this mandate have?

15 subjects

Communication Policy Communication Systems Communication Technology Developing Countries Freedom of Information Freedom of the Press Information Dissemination Information Policy Information Systems Information Transfer Mass Media Radio Broadcasting Telecommunications Television Broadcasting Training Programmes

What’s in this document?

11 operative paragraphs

A/RES/55/136 [A]

A

Urges all countries, organizations of the United Nations system as a whole and all others concerned, reaffirming their commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to the principles of freedom of the press and freedom of information, as well as to those of the independence, pluralism and diversity of the media, deeply concerned by the disparities existing between developed and developing countries and the consequences of every kind arising from those disparities that affect the capability of the public, private or other media and individuals in developing countries to disseminate information and communicate their views and their cultural and ethical values through endogenous cultural production, as well as to ensure the diversity of sources and their free access to information, and recognizing the call in this context for what in the United Nations and at various international forums has been termed “a new world information and communication order, seen as an evolving and continuous process”:

To cooperate and interact with a view to reducing existing disparities in information flows at all levels by increasing assistance for the development of communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries, with due regard for their needs and the priorities attached to such areas by those countries, and in order to enable them and the public, private or other media in developing countries to develop their own information and communication policies freely and independently and increase the participation of media and individuals in the communication process, and to ensure a free flow of information at all levels;

To ensure for journalists the free and effective performance of their professional tasks and condemn resolutely all attacks against them;

To provide support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from public, private and other media in developing countries;

To enhance regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries, to strengthen communication capacities and to improve the media infrastructure and communication technology in the developing countries, especially in the areas of training and dissemination of information;

To aim at, in addition to bilateral cooperation, providing all possible support and assistance to the developing countries and their media, public, private or other, with due regard to their interests and needs in the field of information and to action already adopted within the United Nations system, including:

The development of the human and technical resources that are indispensable for the improvement of information and communication systems in developing countries and support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes, such as those already operating under both public and private auspices throughout the developing world;

The creation of conditions that will enable developing countries and their media, public, private or other, to have, by using their national and regional resources, the communication technology suited to their national needs, as well as the necessary programme material, especially for radio and television broadcasting;

iii

Assistance in establishing and promoting telecommunication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels, especially among developing countries;

The facilitation, as appropriate, of access by the developing countries to advanced communication technology available on the open market;

To provide full support for the International Programme for the Development of Communication of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which should support both public and private media.

8 Decenber 2000

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What other versions does this mandate have?

Which reports were submitted under this mandate?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

A

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