[CMA] AMARC End Successfully the world Conference in Jordan

[Michelle McGuire]

Press release: AMARC End Successfully the world Conference in Jordan

Amman, 17 November 2006. Under the motto "Voices of the world; free
the airwaves", more than 350 community radio practitioners from 94
countries concluded today the Ninth World Conference of Community
Radio Broadcasters with a strong message for the development of
community radio in the Middle East and North Africa.

The Ninth gathering of the World Association of Community Radio
broadcasters, AMARC, was hosted by its member, the Jordanian pioneer
Internet and community radio AmmanNet and held in Amman, Jordan from
11 to 17 November. The conference explored media freedom in the
Middle East and North Africa region resulting in the establishment of
a 10 member-working group and the establishment of a secretariat in
Amman to support the development of community radio in the MENA
region. Likewise women voices for gender equality day pushed forward
women's rights as the basic principle for the existence of community
radio.

The principal theme of AMARC 9 was on media, freedom and social
justice. Community radio practitioners and stakeholders from all over
the world explored ways to remove barriers and increase the
efficiency of community radio. They completed the first phase of the
participatory action research process that helped update the
challenges to community radio. The participants denounced the absence
of proper legislative environments and the need to continue to lobby
for community radio recognition at all levels. They insisted in the
need to increase knowledge sharing and capacity building in the
network, to strengthen the exchanges among the regions and to further
contribute to achieve millennium development goals, democracy and
sustainability. CR members of AMARC convened to discuss reports and
to define the strategic plan for 2007 to 2010. They also passed
several resolutions and elected the International Board composed of
the following members:

Steve Buckley, President,
Aleida Calleja as deputy president
Elizabeth Robinson, treasurer
Marcelo Solervicens, Secretary General
Maria Victoria Cabrera Balleza, Vice President of the Women
International Network,
Maria Pia Matta, Vice President for Latin America & the Caribbean
Ashish Sen, Vice President of AMARC Asia Pacific
Grace Githaiga, Vice President for Africa;
Mariano Sanchez, Vice President for Europe
Oumar Seck Ndiaye, Vice President
Sony Steuss, Vice President
Jim Ellinger, Vice President




Michelle McGuire
Editor, Airflash Magazine
Communications Officer
http://www.commedia.org.uk

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