Accra, (Ghana ) August 10, 2015: 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.
The 11th International Conference of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) continues until 14 August.
From Bangladesh, Mr. Golam Murtuza of Community Radio of Padma 99.2 and AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication(BNNRC) are participating the global AMARC11.
By bnnrc
AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR is Chief Executive Officer and founder Secretary of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC). He has more than 20 years experience in leveraging community media and right to communication to create successful policy advocacy in Bangladesh in line with community media development. His areas of expertise straddle community media policy advocacy, training, project management especially in the area of community media.
He founded Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC). BNNRC Devoted Entirely to Promote Community Media for Development (CM4D). BNNRC Leads Supports and Advocates for the Initiators to actively provide independent community broadcasting in Bangladesh since 2000. BNNRC represent the community electronic media sector to Government, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Media, Academia and Development Partners from 2000. The BNNRC provides leadership and support for rural initiators to facilitate independent electronic community broadcasting services and to build and strengthen rural communities.
He actively works to improve recognition of the community electronic media sector [Community Radio | Community TV | Community Film] & its work in and involvement with the communities it seeks to serve. BNNRC's outreach extends to local, national and international forums for communicating Knowledge for Development (KM4D). In this backdrop, communication is recognized as an essential human need and, therefore, as a basic human right. Our working strategies are:
1. Communicating on the Public Sphere: The role of communication and media in exercising democratic political participation in society
2. Communicating Knowledge: The terms and means by which knowledge generated by society is communicated, or blocked, for use by different groups.
3. Civil Rights in Communication: The exercise of civil rights relating to the processes of communication in society &
4. Cultural Rights in Communication: The communication of diverse cultures, cultural forms and identities at the individual and social levels.
BNNRC now strives for the following core interventions to contribute in achieving 6th five Years Plan, UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS) Action Plan and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through:
Right to Information- RTI for ensuring improved livelihood of the marginalized
ICT for Development- ICT4D for Bridging the Digital Divide in rural areas &
Community Radio/Community TV/ Community Film for amplifying voices for the voiceless and Amateur Radio for Disaster Risk Reduction
He graduated from University of Dhaka and Post graduated from Asian University of Bangladesh in the field of Social Science (MSS) in Government & Politics and Participated in certificate course on Development Management by Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) New Delhi, India
He currently founder member of Bangladesh Working Group on UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS) headed by Bangladesh Government, Community Radio Monitoring Committee of Ministry of Information, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, founder member of Bangladesh UN Internet Governance Forum( UN IGF) Headed by Minister, Ministry of Information, Multi-stakeholder Steering Group Members of Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (AP-RIGF) & Distinguish Fellow, Center for e-Parliament Research. Contact: ceo@bnnrc.net www.bnnrc.net
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