NCRF participated in the 1st Knowledge-Sharing Workshop Of Community Radio Networks in Africa

Knowledge-Sharing Workshop Of Community Radio Networksin Africa 16-18 December 2009, Mensvic Grand Hotel, East Legon, Accra Accra Declaration We the members of AMARC AFRICA gathered in ACCRA 16-18 December 2009, in the Knowledge Sharing Conference of Community Radio Networks from Africa, Reiterating our support to the Doha Declaration of the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day conference in Doha, Qatar, 3 May 2009, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states in Article 19 that: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Reaffirming that freedom of expression is a fundamental right that is essential to the realisation of other freedoms set forth in international human rights instruments, AMARC Africa meets in Accra Ghana to improve knowledge sharing, on best practices in order to develop integrated sustainability models for Country Community Radio Networks and Regions. The meeting attended by eleven (11) countries from Western, Eastern and Southern Africa, envisaged to consolidate the social impact of community radio through strengthening country networks. Recalling the Windhoek Declaration on promoting an independent and pluralistic African press of 1991; Recalling the African Charter on Broadcasting of 2001; Recognize the importance of an enabling legal framework and an independent regulator to promote the development of free, independent and pluralistic media in Africa; Call urgently, on the governments of Africa to work towards the licensing of community broadcasting in their countries; Call on governments, international and regional intergovernmental organisations, civil society and development agencies in all regions of Africa not only to engage in dialogue but to physically promote community media in alleviating poverty and promoting democracy and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); Recognize policy development and advocacy as key program priorities for the region in promoting community media; Recognize the important role of information and communication technologies in offering basic tools for introducing and managing community-centred development and change. • AMARC Africa Board and delegates at this meeting held in West Africa, is very concerned by the lack of Independent Community Radio in the largest democracy in Africa, Nigeria. AMARC Africa calls upon the Presidency and the state to recognize the basic human rights to freedom of expression and to fulfil the promise to establish community radios in Nigeria. • AMARC Africa recognizing the importance of the role played by community radio in building peace and reconciliation in the region. We promote partnership and collaboration between governments and local communities in working together towards promoting of peace. • AMARC Africa joins the voices of community broadcasters within the developing countries in demanding that a new climate treaty be signed and ratified by all developed countries with clear targets on the reduction of green house emissions and support to adaptation to climate change effects in developing countries. AMARC Africa will use community radio to advocate for actions to reduce on the green house emissions and educate local communities on the effects of climate change. • AMARC Africa participated in the 16 days of activism against Gender Based violence (GBV) and strongly condemns the practice. Community Radio has taken a lead in breaking the silence and is speaking against this violence in the community. We urge legislators to take stronger measures and enact laws to stop this practice and law enforcement departments to play their part and prosecute the offenders.