There are three key government communication principles. First, we have head-start, exclusivity preciseness and inclusiveness. Second, there is a developed infrastructure that is fully equipped to communicate under crisis conditions. Third, we have the protection of communities’ information and data against cyber-attacks.The gap in the relation between governments and communities can be seized by dark forces.

Dealing with the public poses immense challenges for governments, most notably, the fact that the public perceives government interference as forcing a certain system, censorship and deterioration of civil liberties. It is imperative for governments to adopt a transparency policy when dealing with the public.

The 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals present a valuable consensus that we want to be the first generation to end extreme poverty and the last generation to be threatened by climate change. To achieve that priority,the 2030 Agenda is a universal one, it requires change in the North and the South, in the East and the West.

The media is an important tool; it can build values and awareness, and specifically translate a culture of positive values in society. Therefore, it is important to build a strategic partnership with the mass media. Let us focus on the success stories and good news in order to improve daily lif.

he UAE Cabinet has agreed on the UAE Centennial 2071 to make our government the best in the world. This shows that we are well aligned with a long-term vision for the nation. In terms of communicating the effects of climate change, studies show that less than 19 per cent of nations globally are engaged in environmental dialogue, which shows that people are disengaged on this topic.We as a government need to convey these complex concepts to our communities, as well as impress upon them the consequences and impact of their actions. In this context, we find the role of the media to be very important, especially in simplifying the concepts for the people.

In the online world, real-time connections allow easy access to information. Extremist groups capitalise on this unregulated world to communicate violent ideologies to the most vulnerable people to undermine our shared values of peace, justice and humanity. This is why we need to continue empowering national communication strategies to align government and media communications for the purpose of addressing and targeting hate speech.

Human rights have become the language that nations use to communicate with one another and the common yardstick by which all countries are judged. Trade deals, aid packages and appointments to international bodies can be made wholly dependent on a country’s human rights regime. Ultimately, a country’s global reputation stands or falls based on its human rights record, as reported by the media, NGOs, the UN and other states. This means that governments must be vocal and communicate about human rights with the international community.

We need to use proactive communication methods to make people understand how they can benefit from government initiatives. We also need to factor in their feedback to smoothen further interactions with people. We have to be strategic in the way we communicate and reflect that we are not only using social media for the sake of being seen on these platforms.

The education sector is where changes occur most frequently due to technology advancements and the internet. Therefore, schools will need constant upgrading to better prepare students to be critical thinkers in the real world. New technology is the world of knowledge and technology is our way into knowledge.

Governments need to be proactive, adapt and shape their communication messages to be as close to the truth as possible. Today, we need to understand that the old ways of diplomacy and hiding the truth do not work anymore. Governments should take the initiative and reach out to the public to explain or inform them about developments, while encouraging them not to be passive but rather interact and express their points of view. Governments need to engage with the youth on social media platforms to ensure maximum impact.

We are in the era of social media. The next generation is around the Internet of Things. Today, everybody is reachable and the main challenge as we become more connected is the natural concern of protecting our privacy and security. The government plays a big part in protecting our data as everything will become even more accessible.

There is an inaccurate portrayal of the UAE, and for that we mainly need to change the narrative. Government communications are a necessity because governments have multiple layers of messaging and the narrative has to be built according to the specific message you are trying to portray in a transparent and credible manne.

It is important to note that improving perception through transparent communication enhances a country’s attractiveness to foreign investors and leads to registering sustainable profit and revenue. There is currently an obvious lack of trust in governments, and the only way to change this and build credibility amongst the people and the media is through transparency and consistency. Governments need to build a two-way dialogue structure. Such direct interchange with people could be established during events and forums or through social media channels.

With the number of channels for communication available today, governments cannot afford to be complacent. Officials have to be straightforward and sincere in delivery. These tools help serve their communication targets effectively. It is for the government to ensure that the community is able to convey its problems. And, it is the role of the government to remain aware of these social changes and new tools, adopt a proactive approach and seek to resolve the people’s concerns.

Once the basics of public communication are established and understood, it will be easier for governments to take a leading role in communicating with the public. Realising the importance of public opinion, governments have now started operating through new media channels. It is imperative for government departments to stay on top of new tools used by the people to communicate; this will ensure they remain connected and avoid lagging behind