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Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Appendix
Fourth conference on women
Resolution 1325
Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination

Chapter 4

Community Radio and Democratization in Cameroon

By Aimée Christine Kadji Djagueu

In Cameroon, the evolution of the audiovisual sector has been positive. The government has promulgated laws liberalizing the airwaves, thus putting an end to the State monopoly in this area. This openness clearly implies recognition of group and individual rights and freedoms.

Following the passage of Decree #2000/158 liberalizing Cameroon’s media sector, on April 3, 2000, community radio stations in the country grew like mushrooms. Each department, if not each village, wanted to have its own radio station, to be closer to the public, even though real operational difficulties already threatened their existence.

Community radio in Cameroon has proven to be an efficient educational tool. It encourages the public to get involved to defend its rights and to mobilize when faced with any and all development challenges. The main goal of our community radio stations is, in fact, to better inform the population, to help people become aware of the political and socio-economic situation, and to help them to take care of their environment and participate in managing the public sphere.

Community radio and democratization

More and more, free expression is becoming a reality in Cameroon, as among the most listened to programs are ones on which people are invited, over the telephone, to say what they think about the actions of their elected officials, of the government, without interference from anyone. There is, however, no shortage of difficulties. In the first place, in our country, the regulations governing community radio are silent about or badly adapted to today’s realities, or they are simply flouted. Hence the numerous suits and the fiscal and political harassment that radio managers have been subjected to. The community radio audience has generally been satisfied with the programs, their complete openness to the voiceless and the use of the local language as a means of oral expression and communication.

Furthermore, given the multiplicity of private radio stations, government radio stations find themselves having to revise their broadcast programming and it is possible to observe a real change in their practices. The trend is for them to become more open and less propagandistic. Community radio stations must above all avoid to be driven to serve the game of political parties. This is the main guarantee of their autonomy, allowing them to remain objective and preserve their freedom of expression, but how can they do this?

Good governance is the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority, political stability, institutional development and the respect for human rights. In other words, good governance is the art of managing the city’s affairs well. Community radio stations have not fallen short in the role they play in the community. Several seminars were organized by the government and by civil society on “media and good governance.” How can the media contribute to a constructive appropriation of the process of good governance in our country? These seminars allowed those who benefited from this training to relay to their listeners adapted educational programs on the issue of good governance.

The impact of community radio on women’s liberation in Cameroon

Community radio in Cameroon is becoming more and more a women’s affair. Many community radio stations created under the UNESCO umbrella are women’s radio stations. The only drawback is the total dependence on the funding agency, which would likely render them inoperational should the funds be withdrawn. Few community radio stations have been able to set themselves up through local initiative without external support, and those that manage to do so find themselves left to fend for themselves, as in the case of the SITE-DAR FM radio of Bafang. In most of these community radio stations, women occupy the most important decision-making positions. They are only limited by their low educational level. We are convinced that the international community’s actions on behalf of woman’s place in society will lead to a better future for the so-called weaker sex.

Cameroon’s community radio stations participate positively in the liberation of rural and urban women through their programs on citizenship, governance and development.

We at Radio SITE-DAR FM train and raise awareness about gender and development. The station offers its support in setting up practices guaranteeing equality between women and men, as well as support to the Upper Nkam women’s network.

As part of this work, the station produces program gender sensible radio programming, and supports women and endogenous development. Thus, thanks to our community radio station, we have been able to set up radio listener groups in order to contribute to the improvement of women’s life in the western province. Radio SITE-DAR FM helps Upper Nkam women’s associations to create and animate radio listener groups. These associations work in different areas, in particular support for businesswomen, socio-cultural animation and literacy campaigns.

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