Conference Participation Report: 11 World Association of Community Radio Broadcaster (AMARC11) 10-14 August 2015 Accra, Ghana The 11th World Association of Community Radio Broadcaster (AMARC11) was held at the Shiashi of Accra, Ghana from 10-14 August, 2015. The conference focused on a wide range of topics related to Community radio including Community Radio: Reframing and reconciling, Women in Community Radio, Community Radio in democratic process, Community media and institutional security, Community radio and culture, Community radio in Sustainable Development Goal, Communication for Development, and Community radio and inclusive rural communication service. AMARC global conference serves as a platform for discussion, exchange and collaboration at a global level and also wherever possible tries to aggregate national and local community radio operational knowledge. Community Radio – Towards a Global Community: Reframing and Reconciling a World of Dualities was the main theme of the AMARC11. To celebrate as well as strengthen the capacity of Community Radio in responding to multiple dualities, the 11th World Conference of AMARC (AMARC 11) has focused on the following themes: (1) Community Radio, holistic security and sustainable development; The world is increasingly facing natural disasters, often related to climate change and the irresponsible management of natural resources. These disasters are both symptoms and illustrations of global inequities and those who pay the biggest price are the vulnerable communities and groups for whom Community Radio is a critical resource. The current Ebola epidemic highlights not only the interdependence of food security, nutrition security and health security but also how quickly their absence can threaten and impact global security and well being. In transitioning from the Millennium Development Goals towards Sustainable Development Goals, the international development community led by the United Nations is further giving recognition that peace; inclusion, equity and accountability are at the root of sustainable development.

(2) Community Radio, culture and identity security and Culture is another prism for the duality of security and insecurity. On the one hand, the globalized society is often projected as reflecting the identity pluralism of the so-called "multicultural" society. Yet, even in states that characterize themselves as open and democratic, political leaders are denouncing multiculturalism as a threat. This induced fear, sometimes related to a perceived loss of identity, is one of the reasons for extremely negative reactions to migration. At the same time, indigenous cultures are being marginalized and/or drawn into the homogenized constructs, including “reality” shows, of the dominant media. By its nature, and whether in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Latin and North America, Community Radio has developed an inclusive process towards citizenship and is an instrument for social cohesion and intercultural dialogue. Its mandate fully reflects the spirit of the community it represents at the same time that it promotes the equal participation of women, youths and others traditionally marginalized from community discourse. It has preserved and renewed multiple languages, thereby not only revitalizing their communities but also enriching the heritage of the world. At the same time, it is harnessing the newest technologies, taking advantage of non-terrestrial platforms and social media. (3) Community Radio, conflict and institutional security. Community Radio has not been immune to, and in fact has often targeted in, the growing incidence worldwide of conflict and violence and general physical insecurity. Threats by armed groups in conflict situations, censorship, terrorist attacks on installations increasingly undermine the security of Community Radio as well as their journalists and activists. Where the threats may not be overt, various mechanisms, including legislation and regulation or their deliberate absence or distortion, are used to dim the dialogic voice of Community Radio. Throughout, Community Radio has played a key role in conflict prevention and resolution at all levels, from the community to the national sphere and even across boundaries. Community Radio stations and platforms have been described as media of peace, and they are. However, the motivations behind the communities that own Community Radio outlets and the community activists who produce the content regard peace and social justice as indivisible. This transforms peace journalistic practices and integrates Community Radio more firmly with social movements with shared goals. More than 260 participants from nearly 50 different countries, from all continents, met in Accra, Ghana on the occasion of the 11th International Conference of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) since this morning and until August 14 at the invitation of the Ghana Community Radio Network (GCRN). The opening ceremony gave way to traditional dances of Ghana and the voices of the communities that highlighted the richness of culture and oral tradition of the host country. In her opening speech, the President of AMARC, Maria Pía Matta, recalled the challenges that AMARC must confront in a world of changes: modernization of the structure, effectiveness towards members and cohesion among the regions to reach a stronger, more transparent organization.

Mr. Bukar Tijani, Regional Director for Africa of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) addressed the participants to strengthen the ongoing partnership between FAO and AMARC their common struggles to promote food security and sustainable development of societies, in which the proximity and community radio stations play a key role. This partnership should be based on closer relations so that policies and global strategies are tailored to projects and needs encountered in the field. Mr. Ato Sarpong, Deputy Minister of Communications of Ghana, addressed the crucial issue of digitization of radio spectrum and of community radio in a new digital environment. Communication rights are universal rights and community radio stations must engage in the defense of this process. Outcomes of AMARC 11 World Conferences Further democracy building at the local level through the development and/or reinforcement of community media locally and internationally; Increased advocacy capacity through appropriation of tools and knowledge on how to deal with governments permitting to facilitate an enabling environment for Community Radio locally and internationally; Give a significant push to the development of community radio by developing the mechanisms, the knowledge sharing and experiences for scaling up the number of community radios in places where they exist in small numbers; Empower women and other marginalized groups through community radio by highlighting issues of gender inequality on programming and by reinforcing the Women International Network of AMARC to implement specific training and campaigns; Allowing for Poor people, Women and excluded in rural areas to be heard and empowered through community radios; Developing content, furthering use of ICTs and increasing capacity building skills for CR specifically and for general public by broadcasting the debates and activities of AMARC 10 World Conference Increased partnership and stakeholders’ coordination on communication for development, poverty reduction and good governance initiatives in the ground.

My Presentation I presented a power point presentation about role of Community radio in Disaster Risk Reduction in Bangladesh in the conference. The presentation was received well and some interesting questions were raised. Many questions were raised at the end of the presentation and my answers were well received. AMARC11 General Assembly passed a resolution about AMARC for taking action on sustainable development goals (SDG). I have raised the issue.

I would like to thank the BNNRC Board of Trust that allowed me to join to AMARC11 Accra, Ghana. AMARC11 conference drew to a close with renewed commitment to strengthen and create enabling environments for community media to thrive, to deepen democracy and accentuate pluralism.