Olha Herasymiuk, Chair of the National Council, called for strengthening the coordination mechanisms of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Programme “Information for All” (IFAP) to ensure that the programme remains a powerful platform for inclusive strategic dialogue and knowledge sharing in the digital age. She made this statement during the meeting of the Communication and Information Commission within the framework of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand.
“Strengthening coordination mechanisms, improving communication between working groups, and increasing the visibility of their results will be key to enhancing IFAP’s effectiveness and its ability to respond to new digital challenges.”
Olha Herasymiuk reminded that freedom of expression, inclusion, and access to information remain the foundation of Ukraine’s democratic development – even under the most challenging conditions of war. Ukraine actively supports IFAP’s work and contributes to shaping its agenda: Ukrainian representatives are involved in all six working groups of the Programme, one of which is chaired by a representative of our country.
“The Ukrainian National IFAP Committee consistently supports the Programme’s mission to build inclusive and resilient knowledge societies.”
At the same time, the Chair of the National Council expressed concern that not all groups operate with sufficient openness.
“Ukrainian members of the Working Group on Multilingualism were not informed about the group’s activities or events. It appears that this working group functions largely autonomously and mainly at the national level, without proper engagement of other members.”
That is why there is a need to improve interaction procedures within IFAP working groups.
“We call on the IFAP Bureau and Secretariat to strengthen coordination and communication mechanisms among all working groups to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, and collective participation in line with the principles of open and fair cooperation within IFAP.”
Olha Herasymiuk also highlighted the role of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) in supporting freedom of expression, protecting journalists, and strengthening independent media.
“This year we established a National Committee for cooperation with IPDC to promote the Programme’s goals at the national level and enhance international engagement. We are ready to share our experience in safeguarding UNESCO values in times of war and other emergencies.”
The Ukrainian experience in implementing initiatives within the IPDC framework, particularly those aimed at media resilience and supporting journalists with disabilities, is an example of how a state can uphold UNESCO’s values even during an armed conflict.
It should be noted that the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference is currently taking place in Samarkand (Uzbekistan). The Ukrainian delegation, which includes Olha Herasymiuk, Chair of the National Council, is actively participating in the session, promoting initiatives aimed at strengthening media resilience in wartime conditions, protecting journalists, and improving the effectiveness of UNESCO programmes.
