UN Calls on Media to Engage Audiences on Development Issues

The United Nations urges broadcasters in Asia Pacific to continue reporting on development issues, including the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while promoting pluralism and diversity of views.

In a message to the 14th Asia Media Summit participants, Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, stressed media’s critical role in engaging and inspiring people, connecting communities, as well as holding governments accountable.

The United Nations urges broadcasters in Asia Pacific to continue reporting on development issues, including the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while promoting pluralism and diversity of views.

In a message to the 14th Asia Media Summit participants, Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, stressed media’s critical role in engaging and inspiring people, connecting communities, as well as holding governments accountable.

Ms Hua Jiang, Director of News and Media Division, Department of Public Information, United Nations, read Ms Mohammed’s message at the opening ceremony of the Asia Media Summit. More than 400 local and foreign broadcasters from Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa and latin America attended the Summit from 6-7 June 2017 in Qingdao city, China.

“If we are to fully engage citizens in understanding why the Goals matter to them and what they can do to make a change, we need your dynamism, creativity and commitment to make it real”, she said.

The UN-led SDGS aim ‘to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development by 2030.’

Ms Mohammed said the United Nations counts on media, through their programmes and decisions, to help inform audiences about the sustainable development agenda and how they can become engaged.

“Working together, we can drive sustainable change around global issues”, she pointed out.

She commended AIBD for organising the conference around the theme of the SDGs.

Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, also sent a message to the Asia Media Summit, saying empowering women and girls should be a priority concern.

Stressing that “education is a human right and also a multiplier for more inclusive and sustainable development,” Ms Bokova said 62 million girls are denied basic education and only 60% of countries across the globe have achieved parity in primary education.

She urged media to stand at the heart of efforts to ensure better access to education for these groups.

Her message was read by Dr Marielza Oliveira, Director and UNESCO Representative to China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia and Republic of Korea.