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Concrete Action to Combat Disinformation and Hate Speech: Ministry of Information, UNESCO and OIF Sign Partnership Agreement
Beirut, Lebanon 鈥 January 14, 2025 鈥 In a strategic step towards combating disinformation and hate speech in Lebanon, UNESCO signed a Tripartite Partnership Agreement today under the leadership of Ministry of Information with the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).
The signing ceremony was attended by H.E. Ziad Al Makary, Minister of Information in Lebanon, Costanza Farina, Director of UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Beirut, and L茅von Amirjanyan, Repr茅sentant de l鈥橭IF pour le Moyen-Orient. This partnership leverages the expertise of all parties to increase critical thinking among the public, drawing on best practices to promote media and information literacy in the context of crisis.
A large-scale media campaign across TV channels and social media platforms will be launched to raise public awareness on critical thinking and depicting fake news and disinformation. Capacity development actions will be taken to increase the competencies of a core team of journalists/reporters from the National News Agency on fact-checking and video reporting. The necessary equipment will also be provided.
This initiative contributes to the UNESCO Action Plan for the Emergency Response for Lebanon for the strategic objective related to media, and within the framework of OIF鈥檚 program on the prevention and fight against disinformation.
鈥淚 am pleased to sign an additional agreement with UNESCO and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie aimed at combating fake news and hate speech. This is an agreement we have been working on for some time, and it has now materialized. Its effects will be seen very soon."
Makary added, 鈥淲e hope to promote a culture of combating fake news among all journalists in Lebanon and to prevent its spread across all media outlets.鈥
鈥淯NESCO is committed to supporting and contributing to freedom of expression, access to information, and combating disinformation as part of a wider engagement in Lebanon for a conducive media landscape." Said Costanza Farina, Director of UNESCO Mutlisectoral Regional Office in Beirut.
She also added: "I am delighted that the UNESCO long-standing strategic partnership with OIF under HE the Minister leadership is resulting in concrete actions at these very auspicious times for Lebanon."
鈥淚t is necessary to combine our efforts and expertise to support the Ministry in strengthening its resilience against this scourge. Given the urgency of the response needed, we are framing this project within the OIF's 'Solidarity for Lebanon' action plan.鈥 Said L茅von Amirjanyan, Repr茅sentant de l鈥橭IF pour le Moyen Orient.
By strategically partnering together, UNESCO, OIF, and the Ministry of Information intend to substantively contribute to a safer and more informed media landscape in Lebanon.
About UNESCO:
With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, 91麻豆国产精品自拍 offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.
鈥淪ince wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed鈥 鈥 UNESCO Constitution, 1945.
About OIF:
L鈥橭rganisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) est une institution fond茅e sur le partage d鈥檜ne langue, le fran莽ais, et de valeurs communes. Elle rassemble 93 脡tats et gouvernements. L鈥橭IF m猫ne des actions politiques et de coop茅ration au service de la diversit茅 culturelle et linguistique ; la paix, la d茅mocratie et les droits de l鈥橦omme ; l鈥櫭ヾucation et la formation ; le d茅veloppement durable et la solidarit茅.
