NEWS
World is changing, radio too
UNESCO to report on free and independent indigenous media
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) unanimously invited UNESCO to conduct a study on indigenous media in partnership with United Nations entities and indigenous peoples, and to report to its 2025 annual session.
Indigenous media is important in enabling freedom of expression for 478 million Indigenous people around the world. Indigenous media not only enriches society with news about Indigenous issues, but more importantly, it provides a public platform to include Indigenous peoples in national public conversations. Media established and managed by indigenous peoples can provide access to timely and accurate information, tackle global challenges such as poverty, climate change or health crises, and contribute to dialogue for peace and stability in the world.
Indigenous media development was discussed at a recent stakeholders meeting hosted by UNESCO on April 18, 2023, in partnership with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) and Whakaata Māori (Māori Television), on the sidelines of the 22nd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII).
The meeting report summarizes seven measures for the development of indigenous media:
-
Promotion of human rights through the effective functioning of indigenous media
-
Official recognition and favorable media policies
-
Financial viability and access to resources for Indigenous media
-
Use of digital media and production of content relevant to Indigenous peoples
-
Reclaiming the story and raising awareness about indigenous issues
-
Preparing indigenous media for emergencies and crises
-
Collaboration, partnerships and knowledge sharing between Indigenous media
UNESCO also advocates for the inclusion of indigenous peoples' issues, questions and languages in mainstream media, whether private or public media.
Amarc International joins the call for UN Special Rapporteurs to speak out on the targeting of journalists and media outlets in Palestine
AMARC, IFEX members and human rights groups join MADA Center's call for the UN to condemn Israel's systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists and media outlets
AMARC present at the World Social Forum in Kathmandu 2024
This February 2024, the 16th World Social Forum is being held, on the theme “Another world is possible, now!". and “Communication, digital social networks and media". It is organized by the consortium of associations and NGOs of Nepal and supported by the Government of Nepal. Several tens of thousands participants at the foot of the Himalayas. This is the first time that a sovereign state of this importance has supported the World Social Forum.
AMARC International, through its president Emmanuel Boutterin (France), welcomes this commitment and “thanks the organizers, as well as President Ram Chandra Paudel, the Government of Nepal and its Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal for their support in this forum". Since the birth of the World Social Forum in 2001 in Porto Alegre, Brazil, AMARC has taken its place in the debate on the media in a constructive and respectful approach, defending the local broadcasting is an alternative tool of freedom , peace, economic development and progress. With the progression of individual digital communication, AMARC will defend the complementarity and necessity of local, democratic and responsible media
November 2023, Mali : One Journalist killed, two others kidnapped
Journalist Abdoul Aziz Djibrilla of Naata Radio was attacked and killed by unidentified gunmen on 7 November on the Gao- Ansongo road in northern Mali. Two other journalists were kidnapped. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, l’ Union Nationale des Journalistes du Mali (UNAJOM) in condemning this barbaric attack meted out to journalists who pose no danger to anyone.
Abdoul Aziz Djibrilla, a presenter for Naata Radio in Labbezanga was on his way to a training session in Gao with other colleagues when the car was stopped on the road by unidentified gunmen. Djibrilla was killed while journalists, Saleck Ag Jiddou and Moustapha Kone were kidnapped and a third journalist, Harouna Attino, was wounded.
The Gao- Ansongo route is considered to be one of the most dangerous routes in northern Mali, as it is often frequented by fighters of the Islamic State of the Sahel (ISIS) who operate within the region.
Kidnapping of journalists in Mali has become a serious cause for concern. Birama Toure, a reporter from Le Sphnix, an investigative Weekly, has been missing since 2016 while journalists Hamadoun Nialibouly and Moussa Bana Dicko (Radio Dande Haire) were kidnapped in the Mopti region in 2020.
Following the killing of Abdoul Aziz Djibrilla and the kidnapping of Saleck Ag Jiddou and Moustapha Kone, radio stations in the Gao region organised ‘A Day-without-Radio protest’ and deliberately went off air on Wednesday 8 November to protest against the killing and kidnapping of their colleagues.
Colombia plans to grant 107 new licenses to community radio stations
The terms of the call to enable community radio stations, distributed throughout 24 departments, were put to public consultation by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MinTIC).
Deadline extended until June 4: Call for applications for the UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education 2023
The UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education recognizes the innovative and exceptional contributions of individuals, institutions and organizations to the education of girls and women.
This is the first UNESCO Prize of its kind, which will play a unique role in highlighting successful projects that encourage and improve the educational prospects of girls and women and, therefore, their quality of life.
Funded by the Government of the People's Republic of China, the Prize is awarded each year to two winners, who will each receive US$50,000 to continue their work.