Стр. 16 - V

Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
Author : N. Khaustov
Second Secretary, International Organizations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian
Federation
INFORMATION has always played a key role in the life of
people, society and the state. From ancient times, the powers
that be realized that the possession of information gives an
advantage over others, helps achieve a victory, enforce subju-
gation, and control everything. Today, only he who creates and
controls information flows has real power.
Newspapers, radio and television are the media that have long
been used in the struggle for global domination and they have
a serious impact on the life of each member of society. During
the years of their existence, a clear understanding has emerged
in society about what the media are, how they work and what
their responsibility is, and the relevant international regulations
have been adopted. The Internet has become a new tool that is used to influence people.
This technology has drastically changed our life and the rules of the game in the informa-
tion world.
A leading humanitarian international organization that addresses, among others, problems
related to the impact of information on people at an international level is UNESCO. Unlike
other international agencies, UNESCO has always oriented itself not toward political dis-
cussion but toward the scientific analysis of modern challenges and threats facing hu-
mankind. UNESCO serves as a kind of laboratory accumulating the advanced expertise
of the world's best scientists and issues recommendations.
UNESCO's activities are greatly assisted by the International Federation of Library Asso-
ciations and Institutions (IFLA). It would seem that amid the free access to information
and the development of the Internet, the role of libraries as scientific centers and storages
of the most valuable information has declined, as has their popularity and demand for
them among broad sections of the population.
To understand the depth of the issues studied by UNESCO, it is important to know why
information should be preserved, why access to it should be ensured, and what media and
information literacy, information ethics and multilingualism in cyberspace are.
From UNESCO's perspective, the role of the Internet in advancing respect for and the
realization of human rights, in ensuring human dignity and in promoting peace raises issues
for ethical consideration.
Information Security: UNESCO's Perspective