20.Dec.03 | ws2003.org:
How was the Summit? [read more]
14.Dec.03 | newsforge.com:
RMS on WSIS [read more]
13.Dec.03 | IP3:
An Institutional Perspective on the UN World Summit on the Information Society [read more]
13.Dec.03 | Allan Liska:
WSIS Leaving More Questions Than Answers [read more]
12.Dec.03 | ITU:
Final WSIS Press Release [read more]
11.Dec.03 | BBC news:
Human rights caucus concerned about WSIS outcome [read more]
11.Dec.03 | Reporters Sans Frontiers:
Radio Non Grata forced off the air [read more]
11.Dec.03 | :
Frustrated by UN summit civil society representatives present their own declaration [read more]
24.Nov.03 | CRIS:
World Forum on Communication Rights [read more]
21.Nov.03 | OneWorld South Asia:
ICTs need to focus on marginalised groups [read more]
14.Nov.03 | Civil Society:
Statement at the End of the Preparatory Process [read more]
14.Nov.03 | Inter Press Service:
A steep climb to the Information Society Summit [read more]
13.Nov.03 | OneWorld South Asia:
Media: The step-child of WSIS? [read more]
13.Nov.03 | Finacial Times:
Plan for UN to run internet 'will be shelved' [read more]
26.Oct.03 | Reporters sans frontières:
More hypocrisy as Tunisia hosts international congress on digital divide [read more]
22.Oct.03 | newsforge:
An important victory in Europe but not a final one [read more]
22.Oct.03 | Inter Press Service:
WSIS: Unions Want Employment Issues on Agenda [read more]
20.Oct.03 | Editor & Publisher:
World Web Summit Worries Journalists
With Good Reason [read more]
05.Oct.03 | Panos:
Bellagio Symposium on Media, Freedom and Poverty - Statement [read more]
02.Oct.03 | GRAIN:
One global patent system? WIPO's Substantive Patent Law Treaty [read more]
01.Oct.03 | AMARC:
Community media groups call for empowerment agenda at WSIS [read more]
01.Oct.03 | IDG News Service:
Tough issues face Information Society summit - Major clash expected [read more]
29.Sep.03 | BBC news:
Sharp Divisions at Preperation Meeting [read more]
27.Sep.03 | the register:
Dog fight over World Summit of The Information Society [read more]
26.Sep.03 | WSIS Human Rights Caucus:
Tunisia and WSIS [read more]
26.Sep.03 | ITU press release:
World Summit on Information Society (WSIS): 'Connecting the World' [read more]
24.Sep.03 | APC/CRIS:
New Book on WSIS [read more]
19.Sep.03 | GlobalCN:
New Mosaic Newsletter [read more]
18.Sep.03 | HIRC:
HRIC Excluded From World Summit On the Information Society [read more]
13.Aug.03 | LACFREE:
Cusco Declaration [read more]
Community media groups call for empowerment agenda at WSIS
source: AMARC
01.Oct.03 - Community media and other civil society organisations have called on
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to ensure the World Summit
on the Information Society gives priority to empowerment of the poorest
people and communities in the world including support for traditional
and community-based communications media.
The outcome of the Third Preparatory Committee meeting for the World
Summit on the Information Society has been deeply dissatisfying for many
NGOs and civil society organisations involved in community-based media
and communications.
The low profile of traditional communications media in the draft
documents and the absence of clear linkages between the proposed ICT
infrastructure targets and internationally agreed development goals is
leading many civil society groups to question the real commitment to
development at the forthcoming UN World Summit.
The present draft Declaration and Action Plan gives priority to the
infrastructure for Internet connectivity whilst failing to address the
fundamental barriers of electricity supply, literacy and equipment costs
which will exclude the world's poorest people.
Much is promised by the information society but the world's poorest
communities face the danger of being left out by a vastly unequal access
to the global communications environment. Access to basic education and
electricity are required before the world's poorest people can benefit
from new ICTs. More than half the world's population still lack reliable
access to electricity. Basic literacy skills are lacking for 20 per cent
of the world's population, especially women and girls.
The most widespread communications technologies remain the traditional
media, particularly radio. Community-based communications media have a
crucial role to play in enabling participation, strengthening cultural
diversity, promoting gender equality and supporting a more just and
equitable information society that includes the voices of the poor and
the marginalised.
AMARC International Secretariat
