World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters · PDF fileAssociation of Community Radio Broadcasters and Quebec’s Association of Community ... To promote knowledge sharing and

World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters AMARC

ANNUAL ACTIVITIES REPORT

January 1st

to December 31st

2013

Credits: World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, AMARC International secretariat Author: Francesco Diasio, Acting Secretary general 2, Ste-Catherine St. East, suite 102 Montreal, Qc, Canada H2X 1K4 http://amarc.org

https://www.facebook.com/AMARCInternationalSecretariat

https://twitter.com/AMARCnews

https://www.youtube.com/user/AMARCsi/videos AMARC would like to thank:

L’Ambassade de Suisse en Tunisie

AUSAID – Australian Aid

Association BHN

Brot für die Welt – Bread for the World – Protestant Development Service

Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA)

Commonwealth of Learning (COL)

United Nations platform on economic and social issues (ECOSOC)

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Ford Fondation

Government of Canada

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)

World Social Forum (WSF)

International Media Support (IMS)

World house of community radio (a collaboration of CIBL 101,5 FM, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters and Quebec’s Association of Community Radio Broadcasters)

Media@McGill

Nairobi Work Programme (NWP)

New Zeland Aid

Open Society Institute (OSI)

Open Society Foundations

Oxfam-Novib

Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS)

The Global Network for Defending and Promoting Free Expression (IFEX)

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Contents

1 AMARC’s quadrennial strategic plan (2010-2014) 11

Objective 1: To promote and defend policy, legal and regulatory conditions that enable community media to operate 11

Objective 2: To promote knowledge sharing and capacity building for community media sustainability 11

Objective 3: To reinforce the social, developmental and humanitarian impact of community media 11

OUTCOMES IN 2013 – Transformation and development 12

Objective 1: To promote and defend policy, legal and regulatory conditions that enable community media to

operate 13

Objective 2: To promote knowledge sharing and capacity building for community media sustainability 15

Objective 3: To reinforce the social, developmental and humanitarian impact of community media 18

AMARC’s DECLARATIONS IN 2013 22

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A word from AMARC’s Acting Secretary general

In 2013, the World Association of Community Broadcasters (AMARC) went through a period of

transition and restructuring. After 10 years of continuous management, there were changes

affecting key staff of the International General Secretariat and the organisation went - and is still

going - through a governance revision process with the aim to increase its effectiveness toward

members, accountability towards donors, its impact, but especially, in order to effectively

respond to the modernization challenges that the community media sector is facing along with all

the media sector in general.

On a global scale, over the past years, radio has suffered a slow erosion. One of the major

reasons is the changing citizens’ environment during this period. The public audience is

surrounded by digital and mobile platforms which make media more and more accessible. As a

result, we have a new world of all sizes screens: laptop, mobile phone, tablet, GPS.

While in some regions the community media sector could benefit from cross-media approaches,

in some others, Internet is still far from being an accessible communication platform and radio

remains the main information tool for local citizens. The community media sector is growing and

this is why, even in 2013, one of the main focuses of AMARC has been the political debate

around access to airwaves, management of the spectrum and regulatory issues in order to keep

promoting and ensuring cultural and linguistic diversity, poverty reduction, peace building and

active citizenship.

In fact, the transformation period of AMARC corresponds to the historical transformation period

we are living today, not only in technological terms but also in terms of content analysis, from the

Arabic spring to the global economical and financial crisis. In this transformation phase, most of

the countries wanting to embrace democratic governance are moving towards with media laws

reforms but, in some cases, restrictions and unclear regulations are still limiting the development

of community media (ex. MENA region, Central Eastern Europe, etc.).

In general terms, we noticed, in 2013, that the sector is still very often endangered by the lack of

access to airwaves and clear regulatory frames, lack of adequate financial resources, lack of

homogeneous professional paths, and a mere binary approach to communication rights: new

media/old media, public service/commercial broadcasters, digital/analogue, North/South,

central/marginal etc..

In 2013, AMARC continued to fill these dualities providing a third model to communication rights,

challenging the global processes with local political lobbying, capacity building, campaigns

through local perspectives and methodologies.

Globalization, the growth of Internet and web-based information, are also having a direct and

detrimental impact on minority languages and linguistic diversity, as global communications and

marketplaces require global understanding, choosing a language to facilitate communications

while displacing others. Following the actions undertaken in 2012, AMARC continued, in 2013,

working to reinforce pluralism and diversity through initiatives and high level meetings (ex:

European Parliament hearing, October 2013) reflecting around the theme of identity and cultural

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wealth through the use of minority languages. The effective exercise of the right to communicate

makes the languages of each people a form of exercise of the individual and collective identity

right. In this frame, AMARC promoted the recognition of cultural sovereignty of all the

populations, which allows the full participation in the public space. For the redefinition of the

perimeter of this diversity, in 2013, AMARC was also committed to increase the social impact of

its members through cross-fertilization (conferences / thematic seminars) and capacity building

(workshops) initiatives.

The community media sector has the same values, but not equivalent approaches and continues

operating differently across the World. Under the unifying concept of community media, there

are an ever increasing number of communication experiences intensely deep-rooted in their

cultural social environments. AMARC needed to adopt new methodological tools in order to

respond to the expectations of its members and to respond to this new media and political

phase.

Although some of the planned activities, have been downscaled or postponed due to this internal

transition period, the efforts for more diversity, poverty reduction, social cohesion, active

citizenship and pluralism within the global media landscape have been the unifying thread of

AMARC actions in 2013.

Francesco Diasio

AMARC Acting Secretary General

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AMARC’s staff in 2013

International secretariat 2, Ste-Catherine East, office 102 Montréal, Qc. Canada, H2X 1K4 Tel : (514) 982-0351 Marcelo Solervicens, Secretary general Valérie Fournier-L’Heureux, Deputy secretary general Marcia Cornejo Figallo, Accountant Ricardo Costa, Project officer Jean-Philippe Théberge, ICT consultant

AMARC Europe Rue de la Linière 11 – 1060 Bruxelles Tel : +32 (0)2 609 44 40 http://europe.amarc.org Francesco Diasio, Regional coordinator

AMARC Asia Pacific Kupondole, Laliptur, Népal GPO #3887, Kathmandu, Népal Tel : (977 1) 5554811 http://ap.amarc.org Suman Basnet, Regional coordinator Gopi Pandey, Accountant Prativa Chhetri, Project officer

AMARC Africa 88 Hacienda, Hann Dalifort, Dakar, Sénégal PO BOX 6202, Dakar Étoile Tel : 221-33 832 27 13 Alymana Bathily, Regional coordinator

AMARC Latin America Av. Salaverry 818, Jesús María, Lima 11, Pérou Tel : (511) 996 450 290 http://alc.amarc.org

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Carlos Rivadeneyra, Regional coordinator Sandra Herrera, Project officer

International Board of Administration

The International Board of Administration was elected on the occasion of the General Assembly in La Plata, Argentina, in 2010. All elected members serve a four year mandate.

Maria Pia Matta, Chile, President

Emmanuel Boutterin, France, Deputy president

Franklin Huizies, South Africa, Treasurer

Maria Eugenia Chávez, Mexico, Vice president of Women International Network (WIN)

Carlos Aparicio, Mexico, Vice president, Latin America and the Carribeans

Ashish Sen, India, Vice president, Asia Pacific

Oumar Seck-Ndiaye, Sénégal, Vice president, Africa

Mariano Sanchez, Spain, Vice president, Europe

Sylvia Richardson, Canada, Vice president, North America

Wilna Quarmyne, Ghana, Vice president

Sony Esteus, Haiti, Vice president

Sawsan Zaida, Jordan, Vice presidente

Latin America Regional Board

Carlos Aparicio, Vice president

Perla Wilson, Women International Network (WIN) Representative

Sócrates Vásques Garcia, Mexico Sub Region

Guillermo Ramos, Central America Sub Region

Ana Limachi, Andes Sub region

Mesa Nacional – Brazil, Brasil Sub region

Liliana Belforte, Cono Sur Sub region

Sony Esteus, Caribbean Sub region

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Asia Pacific Regional Board

Ashish Sen, President

Maica Lagman, Deputy president

Shane Elson, Treasurer

Imam Prakoso, Vice president for South East Asia

Raghu Mainali, Vice president for South Asia

Bianca Miglioretto, Vice president, Women International Network (WIN) Representative

Matsuura Tetsuo, Vice president for East Asia

Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls, Vice president for Pacific

Africa Regional Board

Oumar Seck-Ndiaye, President, Vice president for West Africa and Central Africa

Franklin Huizies, Vice president for Eastern and Southern Africa

Karamoko Bamba, Treasurer

Jimmy Okello, ICT officer

Benilde Nhalevilo, Women International Network (WIN) Representative for Eastern and

Southern Africa

Habby Diallo, Women International Network (WIN) Representative for West and Central

Africa

Zara Yacoub, Institutional development

Kofy Larweh, Training officer

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Europe Regional Board

Mariano Sanchez, President

Sally Galiana, Vice president

Agus Hernan, Treasurer

Lucia Ruiz, Women International Network (WIN) Representative for Western Europe

Michaela Adelberg, Vice president

Sangita Basudev, Vice president

Henry Loeser, Vice president

Christian Jurj, Vice president

Jean-Paul Gambier, Vice president

Pierre Boucard, Vice president

Rita Haapakoski, Vice president

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1 AMARC’s quadrennial strategic plan (2010-2014)

Objective 1: To promote and defend policy, legal and regulatory conditions that enable

community media to operate

a- Policy research, advocacy and partnership for community media and communications

rights at regional and international level;

b- Country level solidarity activities and partnerships including urgent action alerts and

strategic country level missions;

c- Participation and advocacy on media and gender equality at international meetings.

Objective 2: To promote knowledge sharing and capacity building for community media

sustainability

a- Communications with members and stakeholders and strengthening of AMARC network

and organisational functioning;

b- Knowledge sharing on sustainability and good practice including training, publications,

exchanges and support for sector associations;

c- Strengthening the regional and international networks of the AMARC Women

International Network (WIN).

Objective 3: To reinforce the social, developmental and humanitarian impact of

community media

a- News and features services in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe, including special

reports from international events;

b- Social action on HIV/AIDS, health, environment, climate change, migration, anti-racism,

food security, water & sanitation;

c- Disaster prevention, mitigation and response to natural and human-made humanitarian

and emergencies;

d- Promotion of women’s rights and gender equality, including training and guidance

materials and broadcast campaigns.

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OUTCOMES IN 2013 – Transformation and development

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Objective 1: To promote and defend policy, legal and regulatory conditions that enable community media to operate

Policy research, advocacy and partnership for community media and communications

rights at regional and international level;

Country level solidarity activities and partnerships including urgent action alerts and

strategic country level mission;

Participation and advocacy on media and gender equality at international meetings.

Project objectives

Counter increased control of the media by monitoring, defending and promoting, enabling

legal environment for pluralistic media landscapes (including community radios).

Reinforcing access to the media in order to empower the excluded and make their voices

heard.

January

From January 17-19, 2013, in New Delhi, India, the «South Asian Consultation: Enhancing

Access to Community Media, Promoting Positive Social Change and Peace Building through

Community Broadcasting», a one and a half day seminar that brought together community radio

practioners, civil society groups, academics, policy-makers and media activists, was held. More

information here.

February

From February 4-5, 2013, AMARC attended the Second Conference of Local Media in Tunis,

Tunisia. A presentation of the diagnostic of community radios broadcasting on FM band in

Tunisia realized by AMARC was done. More information here and here.

On February 27, 2013, representatives of AMARC’s international network and IBOD participated

as panellists in session 31: Community Media: Enabling Policies, Legislative Environments and

Sustainable Measures at the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS+10) in Paris, France.

The session was organized jointly by AMARC and UNESCO. The panel called on governments

to ensure that legal framework for community media, particularly community radio, was non-

discriminatory, free and fair among other recommendations. More information here and here.

In Latin America, AMARC implemented the Legislative and Communication Rights program.

Besides the National advocacy initiatives led by senior professionals, the program also

published a regular watchdog INFO Derechos on the state of freedom of expression,

communication right and audiovisual policies in the whole region. More information here.

Representatives of Finnish community radios and the Vice President of AMARC Europe met

together on February 28th in order to establish a common political path towards the full

recognition of the sector in Finland. The meeting took place at the Finnish Parliament in order to

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meet the Minister of Culture and Sports, Paavo Arhinmäki and Minister of Éducation, Sciences

and Communications, Krista Kiuru. More information here.

May

On May 3rd, World Press Freedom Day, AMARC salutes thousands of community radios around

the world who exercise their right to communicate. AMARC seized the opportunity of this

international event to recall the international treaties that guaranties freedom of expression and

freedom of the press. The theme for 2013 was ‘’Safe to speak: Securing freedom of expression

in all media’’. On this occasion, AMARC called for a broader recognition of community media.

More information here.

June

From June 28-29, 2013, AMARC participated to a conference in Tunis, Tunisia ‘’A New Tunisia is

Possible with Other Media’’. This conference facilitated networking and exchanges between

emerging radio stations, regulator, policy makers and other media and civil society actors. A

presentation was made by AMARC on its gender equality policies. More information here.

October

October 4-5, Santiago, Chile. The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters

(AMARC), the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Union of South American correspondents of

the press invited Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the

right to the freedom of opinion and expression. M. La Rue met with a group of communicators,

journalists and academics. Together, they wrote a proposal establishing the twelve points for a

communication policy based on freedom of expression and the right to communicate. M. La Rue

also met with multiple civil society organizations and community radio broadcaster’s

representatives. More information here.

In October, AMARC represents the Community radio sector at the CBISS, the Working Group on

Communications Broadcast Issues, within their respective EU Member State. CBISS Members

are responsible for regulatory and policy issues related to broadcasting infrastructure in their

respective regulatory authorities or administrations. This includes responsibility for national

matters regarding the implementation of procedures, regulations, etc. for broadcasting

infrastructure. CBISS is a working group of the Communications Committee (COCOM) and is

chaired by a representative of the European Commission. More information here.

October 9-10, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Invited by the Demos Institute, a group of experts, among

whom the President of AMARC, shared their ideas and experiences to contribute to the concepts

of political communication and access to information in the broader context of freedom of

expression. More information here.

Bruxelles, AMARC and European Parliament: Public Hearing “Radio broadcasting in minority

languages: where are we, where should we go”, 16/18 October. The European Charter for

Regional and Minority languages adopted by the Council of Europe in 1992, recommends

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Member States to undertake any measure in order to encourage and/or facilitate the creation of

at least one radio station in the regional or minority languages, or to encourage and/or facilitate

the broadcasting of radio programmes in the regional or minority languages on a regular basis

(art. 11). Following the initiatives of 2012, the public hearing provided an overview of the work for

the promotion of minority languages from the community media and radio perspective, best

practices exchanges between media experiences of the third sector and the institutional frame

put in place by International Organizations. 20 different radios, representatives of UNESCO and

4 Members of European Parliament attended the Hearing, A strategic plan of action has been

adopted. More information here.

November

In November, AMARC participated at the Civil Society Convention in the MENA Region. In the

frame of the Civil Society Facility South (CSF South), more than 55 organizations in Europe and

the southern shore of Mediterranean, gathered in Istanbul, Turkey, on the 28th and 29th of

November. During the two days, three main perspectives on civil society work have been

applied, namely those of the supported projects, the thematic policy areas, and the country

challenges and opportunities. The aim was to identify the key issues in the respective thematic

areas, to assess the contribution of CSOs to policy making (from policy formulation, to

implementation, monitoring and evaluation). More information here.

Objective 2: To promote knowledge sharing and capacity building for

community media sustainability

Communications with members and stakeholders and strengthening of AMARC network

and organisational functioning;

Knowledge sharing on sustainability and good practice including training, publications,

exchanges and support for sector associations;

Strengthening the regional and international networks of the AMARC Women

International Network (WIN).

Project objectives

Reinforcing access to the media in order to empower the excluded and make their voices

heard;

Promoting Women’s Inclusion and Gender Equality through community radio;

Network development for increased effectiveness of AMARC interventions.

January

AMARC celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2013. The celebrations were launched officially in

January. A reflection on the impact of community radio on social development was undertaken.

More information here. AMARC organized a conference in August 2013. On this occasion,

stakeholders of the community radio movement joined forces with members of civil society.

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Together, they debated in Montreal. More information and documentation here.

74 women participated in the «Capacity Building Training for Women Community Radio

Broadcasters» held in New Delhi, from 19-22 January, 2013. This ensured that 76 community

radios from India, Nepal, and Bangladesh reinforced their quality of content and radio production

and that there were stronger voices in defence of women rights addressed to their community

radio audiences. More information here.

Four (4) training workshops took place in Tunis, Tunisia (February 4-6, May 28-29 and June 29-

30, July 2-6, 2013). 87 community radio practitioners and civil society representatives, willing to

establish community radios participated in these workshops. Productions were prepared to be

broadcast at the World Social Forum (March 26-31). 45 women, including the first Women

Network of the STRL, were trained by the AMARC Tunisia program on content and radio

production. The outcome was the establishment of the Women radio RFM (Radio Femme at the

102,3 FM in Tunis). More information on the May 28-29 seminar here and here, workshop program (July)

and Radio Femme launch.

February

The First Pacific Community Radio roundtable coincided with the FemLINK PACIFIC Annual

Young Women and Advocacy Skills Training Programme from February 11-14, 2013 in Suva, Fiji

Islands. 43 women community radio practitioners were trained on how to reinforce access to

community radios. The participants were also encouraged to produce programs for the March 8

Women's International Day campaign (programmes available here). More information here.

March

The annual meeting of AMARC’s board took place in Tunis, Tunisia, from March 23-24, 2013.

Representatives from the community radio network seized this opportunity to evaluate the

challenges that face community radios worldwide and define lines of action for 2013-2014.

May

From May 16-19, AMARC invited its members to Montpellier, France, for its 3rd Pan-European

Conference and general assembly. More than 100 participants attended the conference. The

conference included an assessment of community radio impact in Eastern, Central and Western

Europe, proposals for enabling legal environment for community radios; define training &

capacity building, strategies for sustainable development of the sector; content development

and; gender equality addressed by the Women International Network Seminar. The regional

board of administrator was also elected and the strategic orientations and plan of action were

adopted. More information here.

July

From July 25-26, 2013, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, AMARC and Animasyon Kominikasyon Sosyal

ak (SAKS), in collaboration with REFRAKA (Rzo Fanm Radyo Kominotè Ayisyen) and AMEKA

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(Asosyasyon Medya Kominotè Ayisyen) organized the second conference of community radio in

the Caribbean. Participants discussed and shared on ‘’Communication and Social Change’’,

shared their experiences in raising awareness, disseminating information, being an actor of

social change. The importance of legislation was also addressed and lines of action were

defined. 16 women were trained on radio production. They focussed on the topic of family

farming, one of the many challenges that this region is facing. More information here.

September

The South Asian Community Radio conference, held at the beginning of September 2013, in

Nepal, was on '’Enhancing the Role of Community Radio and Promoting Positive Social

Change’'. It mainly discussed climate change, disaster management and food security and the

role of community radio in improving people's life. 40 participants were presents, among which

10 women. More information here.

October

From 4-6 October, 2013, the AMARC Conference “Media Diversity for Democracy,” was held in

Brno, Czech Republic. AMARC organized its Second Forum on community radio in Central and

Eastern Europe “Changing the communication environment: Networking for Community Radio in

Central and East Europe”. Participants from Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania,

Slovenia, Macedonia, together with their colleagues coming from other EU countries, shared

best practices and ideas aiming at the reinforcement of the sector in this region. The general

objective of this forum was to adopt networking strategies, facilitate interaction and establish a

strategic plan of action for 2014. More information here.

The “MED NET - Civil Society and Media Development” project met in Tunis the 28 and 29

October 2013 for their first Regional Seminar. The project is implemented by COSPE Italy –

AMARC in Europe, Palestinian Youth Union (PYU) – Palestine, Egyptian Association for

Community Participation Enhancement (EACPE) – Egypt, Association Liberte et Developpement

(ALD)- Tunisia and the network Chabaka in Morocco. The main objectives of the project are to

support civil society to create an environment conducive to dialogue, human rights and

democratic participation in the Mediterranean region and to strengthen CSOs and independent

media at regional level in their role of people’s representation, information, lobbying and

advocacy for democratic reforms and freedom of expression and association. More information

here.

November

From November 11-22, 2013, in Warsaw, Poland, AMARC representatives participated in the

Conference of the United Nations on Climate Change (UNFCC). More information here.

December

The Third Regional Conference of AMARC Asia Pacific was held from 2-5 December, 2013, in

Seoul, Republic of Korea. The Korean Association of Community Radios (KACR) hosted the

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conference where around 100 community broadcasters and advocates from about 30 countries

of the Asia-Pacific region gathered to take stock of the community radio sector and to chart the

way forward. During the Seoul conference, 96 community radio journalists (58 men, 38 female)

from 61 community radios from 25 countries were trained and mentored to improve their radio

production skills and relevance of the content in regards to food security, disaster management,

climate change, and gender issues. More information here.

Research and Academic sector

On 1-2 July 2013, the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audovisuel of the Wallonie.- Brussels Region,

Belgium, and ReSIC (Centre for Research in Information and Communication) of the Free

University of Brussels (ULB) co-organised a two-day international workshop “By the People, for

the People, Community Radio – Current Status and Perspectives” on status and perspectives of

Community Radio. EPRA (European Platform of Regulatory authorities) was a partner of the

event with the organisation of a plenary session on the challenges of regulating associative and

community radios. The workshop has been implemented by representatives of AMARC, of the

University of Brasilia, and community radio players from Belgium, Europe and Africa. More

information here.

In September, AMARC participated to the Academic initiative: ‘’Transforming Audiences,

Transforming Societies’’ in Belgrade. Participation produces tensions in different areas (e.g.

participation in journalism, in the media industry, in political communication). How are these

tensions played out in the field of community media, and how can academic research help you

to deal better with these tensions? How can the audience/citizens, as a stakeholder, become

more involved in these fields? Despite a series of dialogues with stakeholders, often reduced to

showing the differences of academia with the stakeholders, there is an attempt for a different

approach, with a long self-reflexive phase about societal relevance and a dialogue with

stakeholders based on specific texts and on the acceptance of the diversity of the different field

of the social. More information here.

In November, Université Lille 3, in Lille, France, organized: the round table discussion “Radio

mutations in Africa, opportunities and threats”. This roundtable opened a reflection about

contemporary dynamics of community broadcasters in Africa. AMARC participated through an

intervention about the digital switch over opportunities. This seminar aimed to reflect and discuss

the evolution of the community radio movement in Africa in terms of participation, access and

legal framework. More information here.

Objective 3: To reinforce the social, developmental and humanitarian

impact of community media

News and features services in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe, including special

reports from international events;

Social action on HIV/AIDS, health, environment, climate change, migration, anti-racism,

food security, water & sanitation;

Disaster prevention, mitigation and response to natural and human-made humanitarian

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and emergencies;

Promotion of women’s rights and gender equality, including training and guidance

materials and broadcast campaigns.

Project objectives

Reinforcing access to media, empowering and making the voices of the poor and

marginalised heard on food security;

Reinforcing access to media, empowering and making the voices of the marginalized heard on health challenges.

Campaigns and programming

Throughout 2013, AMARC produced, participated, facilitated and broadcast many programmes

related to human rights, press freedom, social advancement and other topics covered by

AMARC’s work and activities.

February

In February, AMARC, along UNESCO and radios everywhere, celebrated the 13th World Radio

Day. Focussed on raising the understanding among the public and the media of the value of

radio, including in the context of new media, this day is a show of support to radios, a way to

encourage policy-makers and decision-makers to engage issues related to communication,

media, development and gender equity. More information and programmes here.

March

The Word Social Forum was held in Tunisia from March 26-30, 2013. AMARC did the coverage

for the event. The material recorded was distributed through the global community radio network

in Spanish, English, French, Arabic and other language. In total, about 23 hours of programming

was produced. The radio forum was also broadcasted. In Tunisia, the audience for the

programmes produced by AMARC are estimated to have reached about 36 million listeners.

More information and programmes here.

On March 8th, AMARC and the Women’s International Network of AMARC (AMARC-WIN)

celebrated the 2013 International Women's Day. The theme was ‘’Ending violence against

women’’. Over forty (40) programmes were submitted in French, English, Spanish and other

languages. A total of 5 hours and twenty-six minutes (5h26) of programming was made available

on AMARC’s website. More information and programmes here.

On March 22nd, AMARC’s community radio network came together in all region to produce,

broadcast and share content on the theme of ‘’Water cooperation’’ for World Water Day. It is

estimated that 5 million listeners in all continents had access to the two (2) hours of content

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produced. More information and programmes here.

During the whole year 2013, in Latin America AMARC focussed and campaigned around the

theme of Environment: production of two cycles of radio programs (6 and 12 audio features) and

a live show produced and disseminated in three regions of the Peruvian Selva: production and

dissemination of a cycle of 9 radio programs in Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba.

Environmental awareness campaign through radio spots in Paraguay, Colombia and Panama.

Training workshops were held in 9 regions of Peru.

On March 26-30, AMARC’s participated to the World Social Forum held in Tunis, Tunisia.

AMARC’s was also one of the main organizers of the World Forum of Free Media that took place

from March 24-30. The expertise of AMARC facilitated a national coverage on the FM band for

the Forum. Online broadcasts and live events were also organized. A delegation of more than 30

journalists coming of community radio from Tunisa, MENA, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Caribbean, North America and Europe covered the activities and conferences. About seventy

(70) programmes for a total of six (6) hours of programming was produced. More information

and programmes here.

June-July

AMARC was also responsible for the coverage of the High level meeting of African and

International leaders. Titled «Toward African Renaissance: Renewed partnership for a Unified

Approach to end Hunger in Africa by 2025 under the Framework the Comprehensive Africa

Agriculture Development Programme», this meeting was held in in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from

June 30 to July 1st, 2013. The radio programmes were distributed in eight (8) African countries

with an estimated audience of 2 million listeners. More information and programmes here.

August

For the World Indigenous Day, on August 9th 2013, around 3 hours (169 minutes, 11 programs)

of programming was submitted. Seven countries participated. They are: Basque Country,

Argentina, Cambodia, Philippines, East Timor, Colombia, Mexico. The programs were

disseminated among our network and their audience. More information and programmes here.

From August 12-30, 2013, an electronic forum on family farming was conducted on AMARC’s

website in cooperation with FAO. This attempt proved that on line communication technologies

are sometimes difficult to implement between AMARC and members, but also among members

themselves. More information here.

October

The World Food Day Campaign, on October 16th, 2013, was focussed on the theme

‘’Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition’’. AMARC received 7 and a half

hours (457 minutes) of programming from Cameroon, East Timor, Ivory Coast, Democratic

Republic of Congo, India, Peru, Kenya and United States of America. The programmes were

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uploaded onto AMARC’s website along documents related to food security and nutrition. More

information and programmes here.

November

For the «16 days campaign against gender violence», we received a total of 11h 52 min of

programming (25 programmes). Seven countries participated: Mexico, Canada, Uruguay,

Indonesia, United States of America, Ireland, Spain. More and information and programmes here.

November 23rd is the Global Day of Action to mark the International Day to End Impunity. Two (2)

programmes were submitted for this campaign for a total of 37 minutes of programming in

various languages. More information and programmes here.

Throughout the year, AMARC, trough a partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization

of the United Nations (FAO), also produced, broadcast and facilitated a number of programmes

on the theme of family farming and food security. This partnership ensured that rural radios

received relevant information through community radios. More information, documentation and

programmes here.

In 2013, those campaigns reached listeners worldwide, through our members that participated in

the campaigns, but also through our website where the community radio network and the

general public could stream and/or download a large variety of programmes and reports.

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AMARC’s DECLARATIONS IN 2013

Montreal 30th Anniversary Declaration of AMARC

Leaders and representatives of community radios from all continents, academia, Freedom of

Expression activists, journalists and communicators have met today to commemorate with an

international seminar, the 30 years of AMARC. Today, thirty years ago, in August 1983, the first

world assembly of AMARC was held, gathering a visionary group of women and men willing to

build an association that would promote democratization of public speech and access to

airwaves for the marginalized and excluded.

Since then, AMARC has grown; it has developed and fought for the right to communicate, thus achieving high levels of legitimacy in several countries and regions of the world. We have said many times that AMARC is a network, a global movement and a non government association that gathers thousands of communicators and their participatory audiences that build another world with social justice and equity. During all these 30 years, community radios have advanced in democratization of public speech and societies. They have done so through their programming, their sustainability, their networking, knowledge sharing and capacity building of their workers. More recently, AMARC initiatives and campaigns have succeeded in obtaining democratic legislations by parliaments and governments in several countries recognizing the right to communicate and the access for community radios to an appropriate place in the radio electric spectrum. There are increasing transformations of the media system and community radios need to stand up and become a reference for debates on digital television and radio, on technological convergence, so that they respond to democratic and human rights standards. Community radio must be an actor and fully participate in this debate. As technologies change, community radio must adapt and become multimedia purveyors through a variety of platforms. We live in a global crisis era. The response of those in power has been to promote increased concentration and trans-nationalization of media and telecommunications. Banks have become strong players as media and platforms owners in many countries. The perspectives for community radio remain opened and 30 years after its birth, AMARC faces the challenge of taking a stand to influence diverse governments so that the States comply with their obligations and facilitate the technical resources so that communities may exercise their right to communicate. We have learned in the last 30 years that, in order that the human right to communicate become a reality, we need to have technical resources. There is an individual and a collective dimension that should force the States to promote those rights because they make possible public debate, the expression of diversity and build societies that are more democratic and with more social justice.

Montreal, August 15th, 2013.

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Seoul Declaration

Community radio stations, national associations, community radio production groups, communication associations, aspirant community radio groups and community radio and communication rights supporters from the Asia Pacific region gathered at the 3rd World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, Asia Pacific Regional Assembly in Seoul, Republic of Korea, during December, 2013. We are communicators, broadcasters, journalists, activists, artists, communication scholars and researchers. We come from East Asia, South Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. We gathered together with our different cultural and political identities; with gender and generation differences; with our participation in diverse organisations and social movements; with multiple experiences and memories. Reaffirming that the right to information and freedom of expression is fundamental in ensuring other rights and freedoms enshrined in international human rights instruments; Recalling Article 19 of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, which states "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media, and regardless of frontiers." We reaffirm that everyone has a right to life, with dignity. All people have the undeniable right to be informed about decisions affecting every aspect of their lives including quality of life, as articulated in the United Nations conventions on human rights. With reference to the 2005 “United Nations Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions” which celebrates "... the importance of cultural diversity for the full realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other universally recognised instruments" We reaffirm that freedom of thought, expression, and information, as well as diversity of the media enable cultural expressions to flourish within societies. We acknowledge the diversity of opportunities and challenges that confront community radios and communications practitioners across the region. We take note that the enabling regulatory structures within some countries do not yet fully recognise community radio as a legitimate third tier of broadcasting. We regret that in some countries radio practitioners and journalists are persecuted by the state or are not offered the protection or justice of the state where perpetrators of violence against radio practitioners and journalists are identified. We bear in mind that wealth and resources are not equally and equitably distributed among nations within our region. We are mindful that natural and human-induced climate change has a disproportional impact among our members’ nations and is emerging as a great challenge.

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We are aware that natural and human induced disasters negatively impact the social, economic and political structures of our members’ nations. We are highly concerned with the unavailability of equal rights for all citizens in some of our members’ countries. We consider that in some members’ countries indigenous peoples are marginalised and denied access to basic human rights and in some members’ countries women, people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity, the differently able, Dalit communities, migrants, and religious and ethnic minorities are marginalised and denied basic human rights. We bear in mind that some member countries do not fully recognise the welfare and rights of children, to whom basic human rights apply. We acknowledge that in some members’ countries conflict is ongoing and where it is not the post-conflict social, political and economic situation is difficult. In acknowledging these fundamental issues that impact all human beings, we recognise that community radio has an important role to play in addressing our above-mentioned concerns. We recognise and firmly believe that our strength lies within our diversity. We recognise that equitable access to spectrum is central to the implementation and development of community radio. We recognise that dangers exist where radio practitioners and journalists seek to speak truth to power. We recognise that different sub regions have varying levels of resources – knowledge, financial, and human – which must be shared as appropriate whenever possible to promote the establishment, development and sustainability of community radio. We recognise that community radio has an important role to play in raising awareness in communities about the value of conservation of their natural resources in mitigating the effects of climate change. We recognise that community radio has an important role to play in planning for, the management of and participation in disaster risk reduction and post disaster reconstruction efforts prior to, during and following the effects of natural and human induced climate change and natural and human induced disasters. We recognise that community radio is an important tool in breaking down social barriers and stereotypes that marginalise or exclude people based on their gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, class, caste, religious beliefs or disability. We recognise that community radio has an important role to play in peace building and reconciliation in post-conflict areas. We agree that as a region we need to build linkages with other like-minded organisations, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, donor organisations, and other bodies to progress the work of community radio within the Asia Pacific region.

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Taking into account our recognition of the valuable role of community radio and being aware of the important role community radio can play in furthering human development and the expression of and support for human rights, we the participants of the 3rd Regional Assembly of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, Asia Pacific, hereby: • Call upon the governments of the countries of the region to recognise community media as a third tier of broadcasting and to incorporate community media in planning, policy, regulatory and legislative measures. • Urge the governments of the countries of the region to bring specific legislative provisions safeguarding the community radios in line with the principles of community broadcasting outlined in the 2010 AMARC “40 Principles of Guaranteeing Diversity and Pluralism in Broadcasting in Audiovisual Communication Services”. • Resolve to continue to participate in the promotion of equitable access to the airwaves for community broadcasters. • Resolve to develop policy and strategic initiatives to engage with regulators and governing authorities with the purpose of ensuring that community radio has equitable access to digital spectrum and other emerging broadcast technologies. • Continue to oppose violence against journalists and media practitioners and to resist legislative measures that would dilute the right to free and open reporting on matters of community interest or concern. • Resolve to develop mechanisms to facilitate the sharing of resources for the enablement of community radio through the strengthening of institutional networks between donors, non governmental organisations, civil society organisations, inter-governmental bodies and community radio associations. • Resolve to work cooperatively to lobby governments for adequate funding to protect, support, promote and subsidise community radio infrastructure and operations. • Resolve to strengthen capacity among community radios to develop independent funding initiatives and develop relationships with sponsors and donors. • Resolve to develop strategies, programs and training opportunities for community radio stations to be better equipped to participate in disaster planning, mitigation, response and recovery. • Renew our endorsement of and call for the implementation of Article 16 of the “United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” which reaffirms the right of indigenous peoples to establish their own community radios in their own languages and have access to non-indigenous community radios without discrimination. • Resolve to create spaces on the airwaves for diverse and marginalised voices, irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, class, caste, religious beliefs or disability. • Resolve to promote and encourage gender equality in our communities with programs that are fully integrative and supportive of women.

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• Reaffirm our endorsement of and commitment to implementing the “AMARC Gender Policy for Community Radio” and incorporate gender equality in all areas of community radio activity. • Resolve to work towards ensuring food security and food sovereignty with those whose lives and livelihoods are threatened by denial of these basic human rights. • Resolve to ensure the inclusion of the voices of all migrant, internally displaced peoples and refugee communities in our community radios and support them in the establishment, ownership and management of their own community radios. • Resolve to support the establishment of community radios in conflict areas as a means of peace building and reconciliation and call upon governments to ensure protection for community radio practitioners and infrastructure. • Resolve to work cooperatively in peace building and reconciliation activities for the establishment of post conflict resolutions to ethnic, sectarian, religious, political or civil armed conflict. • Resolve to strengthen our regional network by developing and deepening our interactions with each other, AMARC International, regional inter-governmental bodies, donor organisations and supporters, and national associations. • Resolve to strengthen our ties with United Nations organisations. We, the representatives of community radio broadcasters, production groups and other community media practitioners from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Commonwealth of Australia, People's Republic of Bangladesh, Kingdom of Bhutan, Kingdom of Cambodia, Canada, Republic of Chile, People's Republic of China, Republic of Fiji, Republic of France, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Republic of the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Republic of South Africa, Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Kingdom of Thailand and Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste agree to uphold this declaration and strive to implement the values and aspirations it states. Seoul, Republic of Korea, December 5, 2013

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Port-au-Prince Declaration

At the invitation of SAKS (Sosyete Animasyon Kominikasyon Sosyal ak) and AMARC (World

Association of Community Radio Broadcasters), in collaboration with REFRAKA (Rezo Fanm

Radyo Kominotè Ayisyen) and AMEKA (Asosyasyon Medya Kominotè Ayisyen), representatives

of community radio from across the Caribbean region met in HAITI for the 2nd Conference of

Caribbean Community Radio, held under the theme: "Communication, Community Radio and

Social Change".

Delegates from community radio stations in Guadeloupe, Guiana, Jamaica and Haiti as well as

the rural and pastoral Radio France attended the conference. Also participating were officials of

the highest institutions of the Republic of Haiti, including the Ministry of Communication, the

Ministry of Public Health and Population, The Senate of the Republic, and the National Council

of telecommunications (CONATEL).

After two days of lectures and discussions, approximately one hundred participants considered:

The central role of community radio stations around the world in promoting information and education that build cultural diversity, support the fight against poverty, and advocate social change and development processes that benefit the people, especially marginalized groups, and guarantee their safety;

The critical role of community radios alongside the social and popular movements in their struggle to transform society;

The need for national policy, legislation and regulations to protect Caribbean community radio stations and their teams of workers and volunteers;

The need for national policy, legislation and regulations which allow for equality of access and power to a significant number (30%) of the frequencies available: and

The need for significant funding support from State and public budgetary allocations for community radio stations that meet invaluable and important public service needs and interests on behalf of the people.

Participants welcomed the consultation, statements and efforts of the government of the Republic of Haiti to work for good legislation supportive of community radio. The participants welcomed the willingness of the public to provide financial support to community radio powers, recognizing their missions in the territory of the Republic, especially in the new Bill to reform the electronic communications sector. Participants believe that the fundamental issue of equality between men and women, the prevention of discrimination and the fight against stereotypes must be promoted through dialogue, mutual education, and active participation of women and men, without exception, in radio programs, the content of programs, and in the staffing of radios. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has made 2014 the International Year of Family Farming to attract global public attention on the contributions of family farming in the reduction of poverty and hunger and the need for state support. Family farming is one of the largest sources of food production and job creation in rural areas of Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia. It is a pillar of food security because it produces much food for domestic consumption. Holdings of these peasants, shepherds, and fishermen represent eighty percent (80%) of total production

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units and forty percent (40%) of global agricultural GDP. Family farming covers at least half of rural employment, including in Europe. Participants of the Conference of Port au Prince believe that community radio plays a fundamental role in the promotion, information, education, security and cooperation of farmers, ranchers and fishermen. In rural, pastoral and coastal areas, community radio stations play a vital role in cooperative, participatory and sustainable agricultural development. On the occasion of the Conference of Port au Prince, the participants solemnly declare that:

The FAO and the United Nations should give priority to support community radio in rural areas;

Delegates from community radio in Guadeloupe, Guiana, Jamaica and Haiti are committed to strengthening the presence of AMARC in the Caribbean; and

The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) supports the effort of community radio in the Caribbean to work with the authorities of their respective countries in order to get laws favorable to their development and sustainability. Port-au-Prince, Haiti, July 26, 2013

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Montpellier Declaration

Nearly 100 community media representatives from over 25 European countries, convened in Montpellier, France, as part of the Third Pan-European General Assembly of AMARC Europe to celebrate the transversal and inclusive approach of community radio stations at all levels.

Considering:

The European Charter for Community Radio, adopted at the founding conference of AMARC-Europe in Slovenia in 1994

The European Parliament resolution of 25 September 2008 that called on member states to more actively support community media to ensure media pluralism

The Declaration of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the role of community media in promoting social cohesion and intercultural dialogue of February 11, 2009 that “recognises community media as a distinct media sector, alongside public service and private commercial media and, in this connection, highlights the necessity to examine the question of how to adapt legal frameworks which would enable the recognition and the development of community media and the proper performance of their social functions”.

The OSCE Human Dimension Seminar Media Freedom Legal Framework of May 14, 2013, which highlights the need for recognition of the three sectors of communication.

The document 40 Principles for Guaranteeing Diversity and Pluralism in Broadcasting and Audiovisual Communication Services adopted by AMARC in 2010, which establishes the economic and political frameworks for the establishment of independent and sustainable community radio.

Considering:

That five years after the European Parliament resolution the situation has worsened. The negligence and/or partisan interests of governments have allowed the appropriation of new technologies by commercial interests, which has caused media concentration and has limited the presence of non-profit media. On the other hand, overregulations have caused the closure of community radios in Europe.

In Asturias, a region in northern Spain, community radios have been threaten with fines of up to 500,000 euros. And, in the Basque Country, the first call for applications for licenses since 1986 favoured political and commercial interests over the fundamental right of citizens to communicate, which hindered licensing to community radio. In the Flemish part of Belgium, the community radio sector has no official recognition. The same happens in Finland. In Sweden, the frequencies reserved for community radios are been privatised and commercialised. In Hungary the new audio-visual regulation requires radios to provide regular detailed information about their musical content and compliance is difficult even for media organisations with extensive administrative resources. In Greece, the radio stations with strong ties to social movements are target of government repression, and two of them have been closed in recent weeks.

Expressing concern that national governments in their actions do not respect international standards on freedom of expression and pluralism despite the great progress at European institutional level and the recognition of the role and value of community media in the expression of pluralism and social diversity in the media sphere,

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Calling for solidarity among local, national and international community media to resist the closures of, threats to and discrimination against the Third Sector. We also call for the adoption of AMARC’s European Charter for community radio by all our members.

Requesting:

European states to meet the recommendations and resolutions of European and international institutions on community broadcasting.

To guarantee access for community media to all available broadcasting platforms, so that the shift from analogue to digital technologies becomes an opportunity for more media pluralism rather than for further media concentration.

That European bodies recognise that culture and technological innovation is a public good and its distribution should not be limited by commercial interests.

To guarantee the existence of independent regulators. To establish consultative mechanisms between community media, policy makers and

regulators to facilitate the participation of third sector organizations in the development of fair policies and regulations.

To respect and support cultural and linguistic diversity of community, free and associative media.

Montpellier, May 18th, 2013

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Brussels Declaration

Following the October 16-17 public hearing, participants endorsed the following proposition.

Support to Minority languages through community media

AMARC considers that European Parliament and EU Member States should not only recognise the positive contribution of Community Media (CM) in terms of the social value that it provides in a very extremely cost-effective manner, but should consider the sustainability, growth and development of the sector by creating mechanisms that guarantee financial resources as well as the availability of frequency spectrum - analogue and digital- for community radio and television.

In addition, Community Media (CM) could make more use of EU funding instruments, through accessing of specific programmes, such as the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund as well as developing education and training opportunities for journalists offered by the Lifelong Learning. However, in some cases, the financial requirements to take part in these programmes makes impossible for community media to participate in them.

In its 2008 resolution, the European Parliament urges Community Media (CM) to establish a European on-line platform to disseminate useful and relevant information for the sector and facilitate networking and exchange of best practices. The open Forum that took place in October in Brussels facilitate the creation of AMARC Europe’s minority language working group, which is now responsible for the development of a working axis on European regional minority languages that will focus on creating tools for the promotion and evaluation of minority languages and the measurement of the status of linguistic diversity. Hence, Community media could develop tools for the exchange of best practices, expertise, professional training and skills transfer.

Within these aims, AMARC considers a priority to promote, in the European context, opportunities for the exchange of best practice, the development of key skills, the creation of tools and strategies to promote the use and mainstreaming of endangered languages in community media and the preservation and promotion of linguistic diversity.

The first step will require mapping community media broadcasting through minority languages in different European regions and define the role of community radio.

Recommendations from AMARC to the European Parliament and the Commission

1. To promote the existence of a common European framework to guarantee the development, growth and sustainability of community media projects.

2. To encourage member states to reserve 33% of the electro-magnetic radio spectrum for community media broadcasting in regional languages.

3. To guarantee equality in terms of broadcasting power and access to airwaves to other local broadcasters (public or commercial).

4. To broaden the possibilities for community media funding, avoiding budget limitations and putting in place mechanisms to secure public funding at local, regional, national and international level. The European Parliament and Council of Europe praised community media role in ensuring social cohesion, cultural and linguistic diversity, pluralism and

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freedom of expression of citizens. This “public interest” approach should be fully recognised and supported by public funds.

Brussels, Belgium, 2013

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A N

N

U

A

L R

E P

O

R

T 2 0 1 3

EXTRACT OF AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the Year 2013 - Canadian Dollars

Balance Sheet at 31 December 2013 2013 2012

Assets

Current Assets

Cash

153 434 204 424

Receivables

58 327 57 575

Prepaid Expenses

44 106 72 151

255 867 334 150

Long Term Assets

Long Term Debtors - 29 685

Net Immobilisation 9 370 8 516

Total Assets

265 237 372 351

Liabilities

Current Liabilities

Accounts Payable

83 983 72 563

Reported Income

38 525 150 486

Total Liabilities

122 508 223 049

Net Assets

Not affected

133 359 140 786

Affected

9 370 8 516

Total Net Assets

142 729 149 302

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

265 237 372 351

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A

N

N

U

A

L R

E P

O

R

T 2 0 1 3

EXTRACT OF AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the Year 2013 - Canadian Dollars

Ended December 31st 2013

2013 2012

Income

Self Financing

143 908 300 819

Grants Received

739 129 737 749

Total Income

883 037 1 038 568

Expenses

Activities

Promote and Defend Community Radio 259 189 306 794

Community Media Sustainability 264 617 327 642

Reinforcement of Social Impact 311 593 401 909

Total Activities

835 399 1 036 345

Surplus (Deficit) Net of the Exercise 47 638 2 223

Before Exceptional Item

Debt radiation

(54 211) -

Surplus (Deficit)

(6 573) 2 223

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