The 2nd AMARC Asia Pacific Regional Conference is Launched in Bangalore, India

The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) is a global non-governmental organization serving the community radio movement worldwide. Its goal is to support and advocate for the development of community and participatory radio on the principles of solidarity and international cooperation. Created in 1983, AMARC now has nearly 4000 members in 115 countries. Its international office is located in Montreal, Canada, and has regional offices in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Press Statement from AMARC Asia Pacific

Bangalore, India, February 20, 2010. More than 200 community radio practitioners and stakeholders from 20 countries are participating from February 20-23 in Bangalore, India in the 2nd Asia Pacific Regional Conference “Voices for a Sustainable and Sound Future” organised by the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, AMARC, and hosted by Voices. The Conference is an occasion for knowledge sharing and capacity building activities, as well as for defining of strategic directions to be taken by the sector.

In the last 15 years, the Asia Pacific region has experienced a rapid expansion of the community radio sector. The sector has become a recognized communication-for-development actor that empowers the poor and the excluded in local communities facilitating participatory human sustainable development in the region. By holding its second regional conference in India AMARC highlights the important openings for community radio in this country and the growing initiatives to confront India’s development challenges.

The 2nd AMARC Asia Pacific regional Conference, which promises to be a ground breaking event in the expansion of the growing community radio sector in the region, is being participated by community radio practitioners, NGO representatives, academics governmental and multilateral institutions. Participants will meet in several plenary sessions and workshops to analyse the situation and challenges to community radio in the region. They will issue the Bangalore Declaration, decide on the strategic orientations for the community radio network in the region and will elect the regional board of AMARC. For updates on the conference click here.