Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office and UNESCO Representative to China, DPRK, Japan, Mongolia and ROK, opened the event. In his opening remarks, Prof. Khan noted that "Community radio is a core component of a free, independent, pluralistic and inclusive media landscape, and makes a unique contribution to democratic participation and sustainable development." He reaffirmed UNESCO's commitment to fostering a strong and effective community broadcast sector globally and called upon all the participants from the three countries to leverage this Dialogue as an opportunity to identify concrete actions needed to implement supportive policies and procedures that contribute to creating an enabling legal environment for the sustainability of community radio.
Prof. Shahbaz Khan opening the Policy Dialogue.
Ms. Beatrice Kaldun, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh, Dr. Balaram Timalsina, National Professional Officer from the Kathmandu Office, and Dr. Ram Bhat, President of the AMARC Asia-Pacific delivered welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony, welcoming the rich and diverse audience of community radio stakeholders from Bangladesh, Mongolia and Nepal to the 2-day dialogue.
Ms. Beatrice Kaldun highlighted the significance of meaningful stakeholder engagement and dialogue in advancing community radio as a driver for inclusive sustainable development. "The regional policy dialogue allows to pool and to exchange knowledge and experiences among practitioners and stakeholders, which allows to strengthen each countries' community radio sector and its sustainability," she said. Ms. Kaldun applauded the great impact created by community radio during times of crisis by making information more accessible to people, by fact-checking and countering misinformation, by getting scientific facts across to the broader public, as well as by providing and relaying updated information to local communities.
Ms Beatrice Kaldun delivering welcoming remarks.
Dr. Balaram Timalsina touched upon the difficulties faced by the community radio sector while performing their responsibilities and stressed on the urgent need to ensure sustainability among broadcasters in absence of a community radio policy. "It is essential to invest more to make the sector stronger, and to counterbalance the present increased risks of the fast spread of disinformation and fake news. A strong, free, and independent media is the foundation for peace, democracy, and development. It is necessary for people to be able to express themselves without fear," Dr. Timalsina said.
Dr. Balaram Timalsina delivering welcoming remarks
Dr. Ram Bhat pointed out principles particularly important for the work related to community radio in the region. He suggested that licensing processes are simplified, and flexible licensing is considered during times of crisis such as during COVID-19 and natural disasters. Priority should be given to media dark regions and linguistic diversity should be emphasized with special attention given to the endangered languages. Dr. Bhat introduced and recommended eco-system approaches to community radio, considering the community radio as part of a larger eco-system, where community radio stations are encouraged to collaborate with commercial and other types of media outlets for resource sharing.
Dr. Ram Bhat delivering welcoming remarks
The Regional Policy Dialogue included six thematic dialogue sessions, each focusing on one specific topic related to community radio, which included presentations from discussants followed by dialogue. Representatives from all three participating countries and selected resource persons from India contributed their perspectives based upon their own country experience and shared best practice related to the important mission of community radio in advancing sustainable development in the many communities they serve.
Substantive discussions were held during each dialogue session, focusing on the crucial role of community radio in creating awareness in terms of access to information and knowledge, enabling community participation, countering disinformation and misinformation, and facilitating an active developing process towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially during the time of crisis.
In response to the common challenges that community radio faces today, including lack of funding, concerns for long-terms sustainability, and lack of formal recognition and legal support, among others, participants unanimously agreed that an enabling legal environment that provides recognition and facilitates resources and support mechanisms for community broadcasters is essential for the long-term sustainability of community media.
Towards the end of the Regional Policy Dialogue, discussants shared insights and recommended next steps for the community radio sector in each of the three participating countries.
With regards to the community radio policy making, it was suggested to ensure timely, forward-looking policies, that are enabling, that put the community at the center, that reflect gender-equality, social inclusion, technological development, and that are developed in close consultation with communities and other relevant stakeholders. It is equally important to ensure that public, private, and community-supported funding is provided and mobilized to support community broadcasting, and to develop capacity of broadcasters for advocacy, media, and information literacy, as well as national and regional learning and networking. Recommendations on legislative reforms emanating from the dialogue are expected to advocate for and influence legislative bodies, where applicable, for informed planning and policy on community radio.
UNESCO advocates strongly for community media that are independent, and which are run for and by the community. We support this through capacity-building and training activities, including through Empowering Local Radio through ICTs. Community radio is crucial for providing an outreach mechanism for increased access to education, self-expression, and communication among rural and hard-to-reach populations. Such stations allow communities a sense of ownership about their own development agenda, becoming self-empowered to publicly express opinion, debate issues, and promote the culture, history, and language of their community.
In line with the Recommendations for Community Media Sustainability adopted in 2015, the long-term viability of community media must be encouraged through supportive policies and strategies, including legal recognition, fair access to spectrum and licensing, sustainable sources of funding and inclusion in considerations around digital transition.
Over past years, with support from UNESCO's Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, UNESCO is working towards empowering the community radio stations in pilot countries globally through improved technical and editorial capacities to serve diverse audiences, engage in networking and coordination, and advocate for legislative reform and greater sustainability of the sector. In Asia and the Pacific, several countries, including Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Nepal, are part of this endeavor.
