Unfazed by unrest and financial difficulties, the AMARC 8 Conference “Voices for a Better World: Community Media and Social Justice” fulfilled its goals as it came to a close after one week of discussions and workshops on various aspects of community broadcasting. These aspects include Women’s Empowerment in Community Radio, Communication and Development, Dealing with Conflict Situations, Community Media and the Information Society.

The conference ran from 21-27 February 2003 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Input from the various workshops were drafted and included in some 20 resolutions that were passed during the General Assembly which took place on 26 February. The multi-lingual conference had 250 participants from 30 different countries who shared experiences, developed networks, acquired new skills, and set the action plan for AMARC International for the next four years.

Some of highlights of the conference follow:

- Kathmandu Declaration

The Kathmandu Declaration was ratified by the AMARC General Assembly at the AMARC 8 World Conference. Putting forward the role of community media in upholding human rights, declarations defined community broadcasting as “for, by, and about the community.” Further, the declaration considered the broadcast spectrum as part of a global commons that should not be privatised or sold to the highest bidder.

Pushing for a grassroots South-centred platform for participation in global strategies for the information society, the declaration called for human rights and social justice at the “heart of the global communications policy agenda for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).”

It called on all governments and social forces to oppose the threats (whether corporate or governmental) to an open Internet and the infringement of rights to privacy in the name of ‘national security’ or a ‘war on terrorism.’

Community radio broadcasting reaching the world’s poorest communities is increasingly recognised as a bridge across the digital divide. The Kathmandu Declaration also called on organisers of progressive social movements (such as the World Social Forum) to support the role of community media in providing spaces for people’s voices to be heard in the formulation and implementation of policies on information and communication technologies.

The full text of the Kathmandu Declaration may be accessed on the AMARC-8 site: <http://kathmandu.amarc.org/article/articleview/73/1/9/>

- Advancing the role of women in community media.

AMARC Women's International Network (WIN) chose Mavic Cabrera-Balleza of Isis International-Manila (through nominations by Board Members Maria Suarez and Fatou Mbaye) as Vice President for Women in the International Board.

Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls of femLink Pacific said the women’s network of AMARC, is taking a proactive role in addressing women’s concerns in relation to access to and participation in community media initiatives, including the context of issues being discussed in the lead up to WSIS. Regulatory issues are critical for women to ensure that countries and governments create an enabling environment for the expression of a diverse range of viewpoints, in safe spaces.

The Asian Women’s International Network participants voted the following regional coordinators: Manisha Aryal of Antenna Foundation, Nepal for WIN South Asia; Sharon Bhagwan Rolls of femLink Pacific, Fiji, for WIN Oceania/Pacific; and Panipa Sotthibandhu of Songkhla Forum, Bangkok for WIN Southeast Asia.

The AMARC WIN plan of action for 2003-2006 aims to empower women to: gain access to the radio waves, work towards women’s rights and equality, change the stereotype images of women in the media, and guarantee women’s participation at all levels of the AMARC structure. The AMARC WIN meeting on 25 February produced a Plan of Action the body agreed upon. In addition, a resolution on women’s role in the peace process was drafted, along with a demand for compensation for women victims of war.

The WIN plan of action can be accessed at:
<http://www.isiswomen.org/onsite/amarc/amarcwin.htm>

The Resolution by the Women’s International Network can be accessed at:
<http://www.isiswomen.org/onsite/amarc/amarc8-res.htm#winres>

In an AMARC conference milestone, AMARC-8 male participants drafted a resolution to promote gender equality and enhance participation and empowerment of women in community radio. The resolution acknowledges existing gender inequalities in society and recognises that gender equality includes the right to equal access to and control of community radio services.

The Resolution from the Workshop on Finding Men’s Role in the Struggle for an Equal Society can be accessed at: <http://www.isiswomen.org/onsite/amarc/amarc8-res.htm#menres>

- Establishing the Asian regional network

The Asia Pacific region participants at AMARC-8 have constituted a Regional Committee currently consisting of 16 members from 15 countries. The committee is chaired by Mr. Bharat Koirala who is also being recommended to represent the Asia-Pacific region in AMARC’s International Board.

The Regional Committee is tasked to prepare statutes for the Asia Pacific regional section of AMARC, to establish an Asia Pacific Regional office in Kathmandu (where community radio development is reinforced as a model for South Asia) and to oversee projects and programmes in the region.

Priorities discussed in caucus meetings include the following:
- Network building, access to information
- Fundraising, database of prospective fundraisers, donors
- Set up legal structures – code of conduct/ charter for the region
- Legislative and policy advocacy – influence policy makers
- Focus on regulatory framework
- Human rights violations
- Membership expansion, “Asianizing” membership fees of other countries in the region

The presence and role of funders during regional meetings was also discussed in a caucus after the closing ceremonies. It was suggested that funders should only be observers during decision-making processes.

Election and Installation of the International Board

The following international board members for the period 2003-2006 have been elected and installed at the General Assembly on 26 February 2003.

President – Steve Buckley
Deputy President – Muthoni Wanyeki
Treasurer – Elizabeth Robinson
Vice President, WIN – Mavic Cabrera-Balleza
Regional Vice President, North America - Frieda Werden
Regional Vice President, Africa - George Christensen
Regional Vice President, Asia – Bharat Koirala
Regional Vice President, Oceania – Stanley Stanis Kaka

Reported by Indira Endaya, Kathmandu, Nepal, 27 February 2003.