Role of UN in bridging the gap between north and south

1945: The UNESCO adopts constitutionArticle 1.2 states that the organisation will be collaborate in the field of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples through all means of mass communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image. 1948: The UN adopt The Universal Declaration of Human Rights- every one has the Right to freedom of opinion and expression

 Birth of Non-Alignment at the first Non-Aligned summit,

Belgrade- defined the goals and tasks of the policy of non-alignment. The 33rd session of UN Gen. Assembly adopts resolution affirming the need for NWICO 1979: Publication of the MacBride Commissions Report 1980: The UNESCO intergovernmental Conference at Paris reaches consensus on a draft for institutional arrangements for cooperation on communication development in the developing countries, and recommends the UNESCO to set up international programme for development of communication (IPDC)

 The 21st Gen. Conf. of the UNESCO at Belgrade

accepts the McBride Commission Report, and adopts Resolution 4.19 which outlines the basic character and content of the NWICO. The IPDC is established with an intergovernmental council of 35 members. 1981: Voices of freedom conferences at Talloires (France), a gathering of the delegates of the Western media attacks UNESCO and NWICO, and asks the UNESCO to abandon attempts to regulate and restrict free flow of news and formulate rules for the press.

 The first session of the intergovernmental

council for the IPDC, at Paris works out procedural details for its conduct. 1982: the fourth extraordinary session of the UNESCO, Paris: the US threaten to withdrawal from the UNESCO, should it continue to follow its present course of policies and action 1983: The 22nd Gen. Conf. of the UNESCO appeals to member states to increase contribution to the IPDC, and approves programmes to support the NWICO objectives.

 The first NAMEDIA Conference at new delhi

calls to intensify efforts for the esatablishment of an equitable world order, of which the NIEO and NWICO are essential parts. The US cease to be a member of the UNESCO with effect from Dec.31, 1984 In 1989-2001: Gen. Conf. of the UNESCO adopted new communication strategy aiming to encourage the free flow of information at international as well as national levels to promote the wider and better balanced dissemination of information.

 In 1991: The UN seminar on promoting an independent

and pluralistic African press took place in Namibia. It adopted the declaration of Windhoek laying down the precondition for the establishment of press freedom, media pluralism etc. 1992: UNESCOs IPDC adopted the declaration rules and expressed that even print sector can obtain financial support from IPDC on the same basis as the public sector. UNESCOs International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) Action Alert Network is set up in Toronto to monitor the state of press freedom world wide.

 Seminar on promoting independent and

pluralistic Asian media took place in Kazakistan. 1993: UN Gen. Assembly declared 3rd May as World Press Freedom Day. UNESCOs Director Gen. Fadrico Mayor was awarded in 1993 with the Press Freedom Prize. World Radio and Television council was established in 1993. 1994: UN seminar on media development and democracy was held in Santiago (Chile) 1995: UNESCO was nominated as lead agency

in the UN system for support of independent media in Yugoslavia. 1996: The seminar on promoting independent and Pluralistic Arab Media took place in sane 'a (Yemen). Request was made by UNESCO and other countries to US President and British Prime Minister to rejoin UNESCO 1997: The Director Gen. created a unit for freedom of Expression and Democracy.

 Its mission is to consolidate and develop

UNESCOs role in promoting freedom of expression as a basic human right, essential for democracy. In July 1997, U.K rejoined UNESCO 1998-99:UNESCOs sub-program on Media and Freedom of Expression during 1998-1999 focused on (1) freedom of expression and freedom of press (2) promoting independent and pluralistic media

 (3) The educational and cultural mission of

public service broadcasting, violence on the screen and (4) To enhance the role of women in media 2000: UNESCO Director General, Kichir Matsuura , signed World Press Freedom Committee Charter for a Free Press. He emphasized on international regulation of ethics, practices and content on internet or satellite broadcasting.

 UNESCO also organised round table on The

Media in conflict and post-conflict Areas in Geneva. 2001: jailed Myanmar Journalist U Win Tin was awarded in 2001 with UNESCO World Freedom Prize. From time to time UNESCO has been playing a very important role in flow of communication among nations. We can say UNESCO is committed to Capacitybuilding in communication, information and informatics to help member states.

 Thus, with in the basic framework of freedom of

expression and freedom of free flow of information UNESCO is engaged in expanding access to global information's flows and media development dimensions. Even while UNESCO promotes free flow of information and takes up various resolutions, apart from that it should be concerned about the threat which is posed to the cultural identity to these states due to this development diversity must be preserved and media and telecommunication should remain a tool in our hands.

 2007: UNESCOs commitment for the

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (to be achieved by 2015). delivering aids Ensuring countries receiving aid and using it in planning and decision making Stress on collection responsibility