Here are excerpts mentioning language (specifically languages other than the
main 6 official UN ones) from an article about a conference relating to the
UN and communications. From MaximsNews -"An Independent Voice from the
United Nations" -
http://www.maximsnews.com/107mnunmay06unitednationscommunicationsusgkiyoakas
aka.htm (seen via a Google alert) Don
NEW U.N. HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS KIYO AKASAKA RESPONDS TO 3-DAY DEBATE ON
INFORMATION & PEACEKEEPING (MaximsNews.com, U.N.)
UNITED NATIONS - / www.MaximsNews.com @ U.N. / - 06 May 2007 - The new
head of the U.N. Department of Public Information, Kiyo Akasaka, said
Wednesday that the Department was the window of the United Nations and, as
such, it must be opened as wide as possible to the outside world.
...
Background
The Committee on Information met this afternoon to conclude its general
debate. It was expected to hear once again from the Under-Secretary-General
for Communications and Public Information, Kiyo Akasaka, on issues raised by
delegations during the three-day exchange of views. For background, see
Press Release PI/1768 of 27 April.
Statements
AJAI MALHOTRA ( India) said that perhaps the most important issue was how to
make the work of the Department of Public Information as relevant and
accessible as possible to the largest number of users, thereby enabling it
to be an effective conduit for the flow of information between the United
Nations and the peoples of the world. For that, it was essential that the
widest possible spectrum of technologies be utilized, such as webcasts and
podcasts, as well as cost-effective and more traditional forms of
communication, such as radio and print media. Many countries simultaneously
straddled several centuries in technical terms and it was vital that the
product presented by the Department was disseminated through a wide menu of
media channels. While he appreciated the efforts made thus far, there
remained room for further improvement.
He expressed his full support for the emergence of a more linguistically
equal world, in which information was disseminated not merely in the
official United Nations languages, but also in other languages. ...
...
GRACE MUJUMA (United Republic of Tanzania), aligning herself with the "Group
of 77" developing countries and China, said her country was encouraged by
the Department's continued focus and coverage on the Millennium Development
Goals, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), violence
against children, the Rwanda genocide, dialogue among civilizations, United
Nations reform and others. She underscored the importance of the United
Nations information centres, since their role of disseminating the
Organization's message to the people in developing countries was vital and
relevant. The effective use of those centres would help mobilize support
for the United Nations' work at the local level, bearing in mind that
information transmitted in local languages produced the strongest impact.
She reiterated that any rationalization of the work of the information
centres should be undertaken on a case-by-case basis in consultation with
host countries, those served by them and other interested parties. The
centres also needed to be provided with enough resources. In addition, her
country supported enhancing multilingualism, as well as keeping up the pace
of distribution, so that a wide spectrum of the population could benefit
from those messages, especially if they were the target.
...
PRASAD KARIYAWASAM ( Sri Lanka) commended the Department of Public
Information for its efforts to develop a more strategic approach to
promoting global awareness and greater understanding of the work of the
United Nations. Many developing countries lacked the resources and
technical means to access information, and some were "information isolated".
The Internet sped up communication, increased the radius of contact and
reduced the need for local libraries and paper publications; it promised
extraordinary opportunities for developing countries, but that was not
sufficient to close the knowledge gap. In that context, the United Nations
websites were an essential tool by which the Department could improve
accessibility through the use of local languages. At present, only 34
languages were reportedly used by United Nations information centres
worldwide. He underscored the importance of including more languages,
particularly from Asia. At the same time, use of the Internet did not
reduce the need to address the information gap. Facilities should be
provided that made traditional forms of communication readily accessible to
all peoples.
...
MAHMOUD ABOUD ( Comoros) said the Department had a unique and crucial
responsibility to inform people around the world -- in a comprehensible and
efficient way -- about the activities of the United Nations. In conducting
its work, the Department should emphasize areas such as human rights,
HIV/AIDS, decolonization, peace and reconciliation and climate change. He
commended the Department for its effort to help bridge the gap between
developing and developed countries. While it should "accentuate" its
approach through the use of new technology, it should also continue to
inform the public through traditional media. That was true of populations
in remote areas, particularly the small island States where new technology
was not available to all citizens. Most people in those areas were
extremely poor and could not afford to pay more than a dollar an hour to
connect to the Internet.
He suggested that the United Nations Radio Service increase its programming
in other widely spoken languages. The Department was encouraged to make
more audiovisual documentaries on the works and activities of the United
Nations, and they should be distributed, by video, to people in remote
areas. But, United Nations websites required much improvement -- for
example, the web page for the Commission on Sustainable Development and the
Committee on Information were provided only in English.
He said Kiswahili was the language of 100 million people and was spoken in
Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Burundi, Comoros, Mozambique and Somalia. Several United Nations
peacekeeping missions were located in those countries. Important United
Nations agencies could be found in Nairobi, where Kiswahili was an official
language. At United Nations Radio, Kiswahili was the only African language
to be broadcast, but was given the least amount of air time, limited to
30-minute, once weekly news programmes and a half-hour weekly feature. In
contrast, other official and non-official languages had daily programmes.
He believed increasing the Kiswahili programme was vital for circulating
important information on the ground.
...
Closing Remarks by Under-Secretary-General
KIYO AKASAKA, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public
Information, said he was particularly grateful for the warm and generous
welcome extended to him at the start of his tenure. The many positive and
encouraging statements had indeed been heartening. "You clearly have
confidence in the Department, as it strives to tell the UN story to the
peoples of the world."
Responding to delegates' specific questions and comments over the three-day
general debate ...
...
...Topics that would continue to receive attention included the New
Partnership for Africa's Development and the Holocaust. He also touched on
the criteria used in producing radio programmes in non-official languages.
...
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