AMARC AT THE WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2008

AMARC and the Principles for a Democratic Legislation on Community Broadcasting

Montréal, May 9, 2008. For the activities of the World Press freedom Day, 2008, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, saluted today the contribution of the “Principles for a Democratic Legislation on Community Broadcasting”, elaborated by the programme of legislation and the right to communicate of its Latin America and Caribbean section the AMARC in Latin America and the Caribbean. This “Principles” were analysed at the international conference of AMARC entitled “25th Anniversary of AMARC: Community Radios for a Better World”, held in Bogota, Colombia from 27-29 February, 2008. AMARC will continue the debate in Africa, Asia-Pacific, In Europe and North America in order to enrich the “principles” and to ensure world recognition and sustainability of the community radio sector. To read the document, go to: Principles for a Democratic Legistation on Community Broadcasting

These « Principles » are a reference for the elaboration, approval and implementation of community broadcasting regulation that compatible with international human rights standards and the larger respect for the right to communicate and to information and for freedom of expression.

The document is the conclusion of a comparative policy research entitled « Best Practices on Community Broadcasting Legislation ». This research considers the legislative framework in 26 countries in five continents, in order t identify the best practices on legislation an public policies recognising and promoting community radio and broadcasting legislation.

These « principles » consider the necessity for a larger recognition of community radio broadcasting, that was one of the recommendations of the Joint Declaration on Diversity of Broadcasting signed by the four special mandates on freedom of expression – the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe OSCE, The OAS Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression African Commission for Human and People’s Rights, ACHPR. Read the Declaration at: http://www.article19.org/pdfs/press/mandates-broadcasting-pr.pdf

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AMARC Salutes the Maputo Declaration for 2008 World Press Freedom Day

Montréal, 5 May, 2008. The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters saluted as a valuable contribution to the recognition of the community sector worldwide by reluctant governments, the adoption of the "Maputo Declaration: Fostering Freedom of Expression Access to Information and Empowerment of People".

The Declaration was adopted for the celebration of the World Press Freedom Day, this 3 May 2008 in Maputo, Mozambique by 150 media professionals from around the world. The Declaration emphasizes the importance of freedom of expression and free access to information for participatory democracy as the conclusion of a two-day conference convened by UNESCO and entitled “Freedom of Expression, Access to Information and the Empowerment of People”.

AMARC highlights the recognition of the existence of three tiers of broadcasting, including community radio broadcasting emphasizing " the contribution of public service, commercial and community broadcasting to enable all members of society, including marginalizaed populations, to be heard and take part in the decision-making process".

The Declaration further calls on member States "To create an environment which promotes the development of all three tiers of broadcasting and, in particular, to improve conditions for the development of community media and for the participation of women within the community media framework".

SELECTED DOCUMENTS MAPUTO CONFERENCE

• Read the Maputo Declaration: MAPUTO DECLARATION 3 May 2008~

• Read Presentation by Steve Buckley, President of AMARC: Community Broadcasting: Good Practice in Policy, Law and Regulation
  

• Presentation by Agnès Callamand, Article 19: Towards a Third Generation of Rights to Freedom to Information Activism
  

THE 14 PRINCIPLES ON COMMUNITY RADIO LEGISLATION.

• Read the 14 Principles:

Principles for Democratic Legislation on Community Broadcasting