Latest news with #MelissaFleming
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
ONA participates in Asia-Pacific News Agencies meeting in Russia
St. Petersburg: Oman News Agency (ONA) took part in the General Assembly meeting of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), held on Thursday in St. Petersburg, Russia, under the theme 'News Agencies and the Challenges of the Modern World." The event, attended by over 40 government and private news agencies, coincided with the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, a two-day event hosted under the patronage of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation. In his opening address, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasised the critical role of news agencies in delivering credible journalism and countering misinformation, particularly amid today's rapidly evolving global developments. Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, highlighted the importance of protecting journalists in conflict zones, especially in armed conflicts, given their vital role in reporting facts and exposing the humanitarian suffering of war victims. The OANA General Assembly addressed key topics, including the risks of disinformation and its impact on news credibility—particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence technologies—as well as the experiences of international agencies transitioning from traditional broadcasting to digital platforms in an era of accelerating media innovation. The meeting also included votes on the Executive Council composition for 2025–2028, the formation of the Technical and Ethical Committee for the same term, and the OANA Presidential Board for 2028–2031. Additionally, the assembly announced election results for the new OANA President and Secretary-General, presented awards, and approved reports from the Executive and Technical Councils, along with the appointment of vice presidents.
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Champions For Change: World Football Teams Up With UN Development Goals
The Football for the Goals Forum brought UN leaders and some of the top voices in the world's most popular sport to UN Headquarters in New York for the inaugural Champions for Change: Football and the UN Unite for the SDGs event. The UN has long recognised the role of sport in advancing the SDGs – promoting peace, gender equality, health, and climate action – as affirmed in a General Assembly Resolution on Sport adopted in December 2022. With unparalleled global reach, football holds a unique position to drive progress on these goals. Launched in July 2022, Football for the Goals is a UN initiative engaging the international football community to advocate for the SDGs. Wednesday's forum aimed to mobilise the football community for action across key SDG areas. The kick off After introductions from football executives, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, UN communications chief Melissa Fleming, and the Qatari Representative to the UN, the opening panel – Bolstering Community Engagement with the SDGs – outlined the origins of Football for the Goals and explored how the football community can deepen its contribution to the SDGs. This was followed by a brief discussion on the football sector's commitment to climate sustainability. The programme then shifted to some of the Forum's most substantive panels, exploring how football both reflects global inequalities – between the Global South and North, and between men and women – and has the potential to help address them. North-South divide Júlia Pimenta of Street Child United highlighted that football organisations in the Global South, which serve the children who need support most, often lack adequate funding and must compete with well-resourced programmes in the Global North. Sarah Van Vooren of Atoot in Nepal similarly noted that grassroots organisations connecting football and sustainable development, frequently lack the resources needed to reach their full potential. When these organisations are properly supported, they can provide safe, educational environments for children – often with life-changing results. Panellists emphasised that funding such initiatives is key to advancing SDGs related to education and reducing inequality. Levelling the gender playing field Jayathma Wickramanayake, a policy advisor on sports partnerships at UN Women, noted that the gender equality agency is responsible for most of the targets under SDG 5 related to closing the gender gap. She emphasised that progress has been slow – and in some areas, it's even regressing – largely due to the persistence of rigid social norms, attitudes, and behaviours. These norms often manifest in the sports world through unequal pay and incidents of sexual harassment. However, Ms. Wickramanayake and other panellists highlighted how sport can be a powerful tool to challenge stereotypes and empower women and girls to succeed – both on and off the pitch.
