Uniting nations in a time of crisis – communications are key in overcoming global challenges

For heads of state and government, as well as diplomats and foreign policy enthusiasts this past week has been the equivalent of the Oscars, the World Cup and Glastonbury all rolled into one. The General Assembly High-level Week, which has been taking place at United Nations headquarters in New York, is an annual gathering of world leaders.

This year under the theme ‘Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity’ there was a particular focus on accelerating action on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the 2030 agenda. There were also meetings on many other pressing global issues including on the climate crisis, financing for development to achieve the SDGs and pandemic preparedness.

As the meetings got under way, UN secretary general, António Guterres, reminded leaders that they are in New York, “to not only assess the state of the world – but to act for the common good. Action is what the world needs.”

The list of international crises is extensive and often bewildering. Many impact us all and they range from the climate crisis, through to the war in Ukraine. Several also undermine the United Nations itself, especially the current relations between the P5 permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the UK and the US). 

Despite the bewildering set of challenges, “the women and men of the United Nations are determined in our efforts to address today’s cascading crises and set humanity on a new path to peace, stability and prosperity,” said Guterres.

This is also the busiest week of the year for UN under secretary-general for global communications, Melissa Fleming, and her team who handle all the UN’s communications. As 20,000 people descended on New York, the comms team have been streaming, photographing, live blogging, interviewing and covering all the proceedings on the many UN platforms.

Crises and solutions

Fleming – who has been leading the UN’s global comms since 2019 – is no stranger to communicating about crises and their solutions. Previously, she spent a decade as the head of global communications and chief spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR), prior to which she held leadership roles at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). 

In recent years Fleming has spoken extensively about the proliferation of misinformation, the impact of technology on communications, as well as the changed human rights environment and what that means for our fundamental right to freedom of expression.

The CIPR is incredibly excited that Melissa Fleming will be joining us shortly after the UN General Assembly, to give this year’s Maggie Nally Memorial lecture. She will speak about ‘Responsible Influence: PR in Times of Change’. 

In the lecture Melissa Fleming will tackle how PR can help to bring positive change and influence decision making at all levels. The event is free and registration is open.

This year’s Maggie Nally lecture will be held on 4 October at 1400 BST. You can register here.

Crispin Thorold Chart. PR FCIPR will moderate the Maggie Nally Memorial lecture. He is strategic communications advisor to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture.