Addressing Communication and Information Poverty in the Context of

the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

2018

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 Summary

This document 2 examines the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) from a communication rights perspective. Drawing on learnings
from WACC’s in-person consultations with representatives of 92 grassroots and medium-sized
civil society organizations and academic institutions from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin
America working on communication-related issues, this paper is intended to help guide
communications rights-based advocacy and community development efforts in an international
cooperation context framed by the SDGs.

This paper argues that a rights-based view of communication is central to the achievement of
many of the SDGs, primarily because communication and information poverty is closely linked
to many of the social and economic poverty issues addressed by the SDGs. The paper highlights
areas of commonality between the SDGs and communication rights, particularly under SDGs 5,
9, 16, and 17. It presents a series of examples of ways in which organizations working from a
communication rights perspective could align their work with the above-mentioned SDGs. The
framework also highlights issues that, despite being central to social change from a
communication rights perspective, are absent from Agenda 2030, such as the democratization
of media systems, media literacy for the digital age, and addressing the communication and
information needs of historically marginalized communities.

Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Why Communication?................................................................................................................................... 4
Communication and Information Poverty ................................................................................................ 5
Communication and Development ........................................................................................................... 5
A Rights-Based View of Communication................................................................................................... 7
How Communication and Information Poverty Undermines the Vision of the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) .................................................................................................................................................. 8
SDG 5- Gender Equality............................................................................................................................. 9
SDG 9- Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure & SDG 17- Partnership for the Goals ......................... 13
SDG 16- Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions ..................................................................................... 16
How Communication and Information Poverty Relates to Other SDGs ................................................. 20
Beyond Agenda 2030 .................................................................................................................................. 24
About WACC ............................................................................................................................................... 30
Annex 1-List of Participants in WACC Consultations on the SDGs .............................................................. 31

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Introduction
Millions of people on every continent lack access to communication platforms, are underrepresented or
misrepresented in the media, have low levels of media literacy, have restricted access to relevant and
accurate information and knowledge, are excluded from participation in decision-making processes, and
live in contexts with limited media freedom. These issues can be encapsulated as communication and
information poverty, a form of poverty that contributes to people’s sense of powerlessness and inability
to make themselves heard, one of the most prevalent manifestations of poverty according to a
landmark 2000 World Bank study 3. As such, communication and information poverty is a critical
dimension of poverty in all its forms.

WACC and its partners around the world believe that addressing these types of communication and
information issues is critical to achieving the vision of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4. This is because these issues impede
full participation in development processes, especially for the poorest and most marginalized people in
society. This belief echoes the findings of a 2013 report published by the UN Development Group on the
post-2015 development agenda, which found that people want to have a public voice in decisions
concerning development and calls for “putting people — their rights, aspirations and opportunities — at
the centre of development” 5.

For example, it is difficult to imagine that universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services
(SDG 3, Target 3.7) can be achieved unless women and girls have access to accurate knowledge about
reproductive health and are able to participate in decision-making processes about healthcare priorities.
Similarly, reducing corruption and bribery (SDG 16, Target 5) will be difficult to achieve unless journalists
have the necessary freedom and protection to investigate and shed light on cases of bribery.

Unfortunately, tackling communication and information poverty is not always part of development
agendas set by donor partners, international institutions, and national governments. Equitable access to
communication and information, despite being the backbone of democratic societies, is often taken for
granted by those who set development priorities. This can partly be attributed to the fact that
communication and information issues are often less tangible than other development priorities, such
as food security or access to life-saving medication. Nevertheless, information and communication
considerations must be part of development agendas as they help enable the achievement of a range of
other development objectives, and can enhance the long-term sustainability of some development
outcomes, such as health-related behavioural change 6.

The United Nation’s 2030 Agenda does shed light on a number of communication and information
issues, which is very encouraging. For example, SDG 5 highlights the importance of Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs) as tools for women’s empowerment, while SDG 9 promotes
universal internet access. ICTs are also mentioned in SDG 4 and SDG 17. SDG 16 calls attention to the
importance of access to public information legislation and to the imperative of protecting journalists,
trade unionists, and human rights defenders.

Despite this progress, we believe that greater integration of communication and information issues into
the SDGs and its targets would have strengthened the vision of Agenda 2030. While it is clearly no
longer possible to suggest changes to the SDGs, we believe that it is indeed possible to encourage the
integration of communication and information issues into the implementation of programmes aimed at
advancing a number of the Goals.
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This document is the result of a process that involved face-to-face and online consultations in late 2016
and throughout 2017 with 92 of WACC’s partners and collaborators around the world (See Annex 1 for a
list of participants in WACC consultations in Hong Kong, New York, and Costa Rica). It explores the
relationship between communication and information issues and the 2030 Agenda. It also presents a
series of recommendations for donor governments, international institutions, national governments,
and other stakeholders to address communication and information poverty as part of development
interventions guided by SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and
SDG 17 (Partnership for Goals), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The
recommendations listed in this document will help guide WACC’s award-winning 7 programmatic work
over the next few years.

Importantly, these recommendations also reflect the position that taking a rights-based approach to
communication and information is the most ethical way to address the issues mentioned above. This is
because of the existence of widely accepted rights frameworks around communication and information,
such as the right to freedom of expression, the right to access to information, and linguistic rights, all of
which draw on the principles of equality, accessibility, inclusion, and accountability.

Why Communication?
Communication between human beings is often taken for granted. Greek philosophers described people
as “the animal that speaks”, which later became “the animal that thinks” 8. Arguably, everything that is
characteristic of people depends on language. Communication (as a portmanteau word for speech,
writing, and now digital media) plays the most essential, though not the only, role in the development
and maintenance of the human self, families, communities and nations. The need to communicate is
intrinsic to human nature. In this regard, communication is pivotal for individual participation, for
communities organizing for change, and for a healthy social fabric. It is precisely because
communication is fundamental to human life that control of communication and information is strongly
linked to the exercise of power in society.

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Communication and Information Poverty
WACC believes that communication and information poverty, a form of poverty that goes hand-in-hand
with economic and social poverty, needs to be addressed in order to achieve sustainable development.
Communication and information are “essential conditions for development and affect every aspect of
life. [Therefore], communication and information poverty, despite being only one dimension of poverty,
affects all other dimensions” 9. The process that led to the drafting of this document was guided by an
understanding of communication and information poverty as arising from structural deficits that prevent
people from fully participating in decision-making processes about issues that affect their lives.

Key Manifestations of Communication and Information Poverty

Lack of access to platforms meaningfully to raise concerns about issues that affect one’s life

Under/misrepresentation in media content

Low levels of media literacy

Limited access to relevant information, including public information

Exclusion from decision-making processes

Restrictions on freedom of association and assembly

Absence of a free, independent, inclusive, and pluralistic media sector

Communication and Development

The relationship between communication and development has taken many forms over the years,
though the notion of communication and information poverty has not always been at the centre of this
debate. Since the inception of international development as a global project in the 1950’s, development
practitioners and researchers have highlighted the potential of communication in supporting
development processes 10. This led, over the years, to the emergence of a number of greatly varying
practices within the field of communication for development, such as communication strategies for
agricultural extension, technology transfer, behavioural change, and participatory communication 11. As
a result, a plethora of labels have emerged to describe the field, such as communication for social
change, development communication, development support communication, communication for
development, participatory communication, media development, development media, social
communication, and behavioural change communication 12 13.

Two main approaches have historically shaped the role of communication in development. On the one
hand is an understanding of communication as “a linear process of information transmission that causes
social change in terms of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours”. This understanding is typically
connected to the view of development as modernization, which emphasizes the replication of Western
paths to progress. An example would be early models of agricultural extension, which provided farmers
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in the Global South with information about new farming practices often without taking into account the
local context. The transmission approach generally tends to overlook issues such as local culture, local
access to media, and farmers’ ability to participate in decision-making, all of which are related to
communication and information poverty.

On the other hand, there is the view that “communication is a complex process that is linked to culture,
and that is connected to global and local economic, political, and ideological structures”. This idea is
conceptually linked to views of development as the empowerment of marginalized communities and
challenging unequal power relationships 1415. An example is the use of community-based theatre as a
mechanism to generate debate, explore cultural identities, and build consensus around common
problems. This approach tends to understand communication and information from a rights-based
perspective, and addresses key communication and information poverty issues such as the existence of
platforms for genuine participation, media literacy, and cultural and linguistic relevance.

The field has also been shaped by regional concepts of communication, with some regions of the world
having a strong tradition in participatory dialogue-based communication and others having historically
focused on media structures or on media content for development 16.

Today, there is growing consensus that communication-based development interventions should abide
by principles such as inclusion, locally driven development, gender equality, community empowerment,
participation, and respect for human rights. There is also an increased recognition that all of the
approaches to communication for development can contribute to processes of social change, depending
on the local context, the issue at hand, and the appropriateness of tools used (mass media, community
media, community dialogue, public art, etc.).

The notion of communication as a cyclical or two-way process of exchange that is embedded in culture
is also a defining feature of interventions that view communication as one of the building blocks of
sustainable development.

This changing understanding of communication reaffirms the idea that integrating communication and
information issues into development is more about a holistic approach that addresses communication
and information poverty than about merely simply providing people with information or access to
communication technologies.

Some approaches to integrating communication into development processes include:

Communication for Social Change: “a process of public and private dialogue through which people
define who they are, what they want, what they need and how they can act collectively to meet those
needs and improve their lives” 17;

Communication for Development: “a social process based on dialogue using a broad range of tools and
methods. ‘ComDev’ [or C4D] is about seeking change at different levels including listening, building
trust, sharing knowledge and skills, building policies, debating, and learning for sustained and
meaningful change. It is not public relations or corporate communications” 18;

A slightly different definition is: “Communication for Development goes beyond providing information: it
involves understanding people, their beliefs and values, the social and cultural norms that shape their
lives. It involves engaging communities and listening to adults and children as they identify problems,
propose solutions and act upon them. Communication for development is a two-way process for sharing
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ideas and knowledge using a range of communication tools and approaches that empower individuals
and communities to take actions to improve their lives” 19;

Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC): “the use of communication to change behaviours,
including service utilization, by positively influencing knowledge, attitudes, and social norms” 20;

Media Development: “efforts to build media or ICTs infrastructures, media and communication policies,
and journalists’ capacities… The aim is to consolidate good governance, free speech, political citizenship,
and sustainable development” 21. UNESCO’s Media Development Indicators are widely accepted as the
main framework to assess media development 22 ;

Communication rights and media-related advocacy: initiatives to modify or establish laws, policies
and/or practices related to issues such as access to information, freedom of expression, media
governance, or media democracy;

ICTs for Development: the use of digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) and “big
data” to enable and to “fast forward” 23 progress on development. The World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS) Action Lines 24 provide a comprehensive framework to guide this work.

It should be underlined that that these are only some approaches to integrating communication into
development. Other approaches, such as “edu-communication”, “edutainment”, health communication,
and social marketing are also important parts of the field.

A Rights-Based View of Communication

WACC and its partners believe that addressing communication and information poverty though
development interventions should be done from a rights-based perspective. This is because, in addition
to drawing on existing and widely accepted rights frameworks, a rights-based approach provides
development practitioners with a common lens with which to view, understand and address
communication and information issues.

The right to freedom of expression, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights 25, is the starting point for taking a rights based approach to communication and information. “It is
regarded as a central pillar of democracy, protecting the right to call our rulers to account, vital to
preventing censorship, an indispensable condition of effective and free media” 26.

However, power among people in any given society both enables and limits access to information and
communication, which may in some cases undermine freedom of expression. For example:

A poor person seeking to highlight injustice in their lives and a powerful media mogul each
have, before the law, precisely the same protection for their right to freely express their views.
In practice, however, the former lacks a means to have her/his voice heard, while the latter
can powerfully amplify her/his message and ensure it is widely heard. 27

As a result, the right to freedom of expression is best guaranteed when promoted alongside a number of
other rights. This is particularly important today, as communication ecosystems are becoming
increasingly complex due to rapid technological change, different levels of access to platforms, multi-
layered and often transnational media governance processes, growing dependence on digital
technology, and the emergence of media as a key space to advance inclusion and social change. 28

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Other rights that help “construct the environment in which freedom of expression may be fully
consummated” include “a right to participate in one’s own culture and language, to enjoy the benefits
of science, to information, to education, to participation in governance, to privacy, to peaceful assembly,
to the protection of one’s reputation” 29 all of which are part of the International Bill of Rights. 30 Other
crucial elements include diversity of media content and ownership, press freedom, diverse and
independent media, and democratic access to media 31. WACC has produced several freely accessible
resources on a rights-based approach to communication, including a No-Nonsense Guide to
Communication Rights 32.

The following are some of the key rights already recognized in international human rights
documents that help enable access to information, communication, and participation at all levels:

- Freedom of expression, including the right of the media to operate freely (Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 18, 19, 21, International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (ICCPR) 19);
- Access information from public and private sources that pertains to the public interest
(UDHR 19, ICCPR 19);
- A diverse and plural media, in terms of sources, content, views and means of transmission
(UDHR 19, ICCPR 19);
- Universal access to the media necessary to engage with the public sphere, including direct
communication and a right to assembly (UDHR 19, ICCPR 19, 21, 22).
- The right to literacy and to a basic education (UDHR 26, International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) 13).
- Affordable and equitable access to the means and media for knowledge-sharing (UDHR 19,
27, ICCPR 19, 27);
- Communicate in one’s mother tongue in key spheres such as politics and media (ICCPR 10f,
27); and
- Privacy of personal communication (ICCPR 17). 33

How Communication and Information Poverty Undermines the Vision of

the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Transforming our World: Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development is the United Nations framework
for development between 2015 and 2030. It is a universal agenda, including both developed and
developing countries, that seeks to balance economic growth, environmental sustainability, peace, and
human development in order to achieve meaningful change. Agenda 2030 is grounded in human rights
frameworks and reaffirms the outcomes of other global processes, such as the Declaration on the Right
to Development, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the Beijing Platform for Action,
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, among others.

Agenda 2030 sets 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are “integrated and indivisible,
global in nature and universally applicable, taking into account different national realities, capacities and
levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities”. Each Goal contains several
Targets in order to guide implementation, though these targets remain “aspirational and global” 34.

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While the implementation of the SDGs is the responsibility of national governments, Agenda 2030
envisions a Global Partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector, UN agencies, and
other stakeholders in order to mobilize the resources and knowledge needed to implement the vision of
Agenda 2030.

Image Credit: United Nations

WACC and its partners maintain that the vision of Agenda 2030 cannot be fully realised unless
communication and information ecosystems enable people to participate in decision-making related to
sustainable development. During the consultation process that led to the drafting of this document,
WACC and its partners identified SDGs 5 (Gender Equality), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure),
16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnership for the Goals) as the SDGs where the
intersection with communication and information poverty is most evident. Our thinking and
recommendations around these SDGs are explored in the sections below.

SDG 5- Gender Equality

Agenda 2030 recognizes the importance of addressing gender inequality as a central component of
achieving sustainable development. Goal 5 seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women
and girls; its 9 Targets and 14 indicators address critical gender issues such as discrimination against
women and girls, violence against women and girls, harmful practices such as early and forced marriage
and female genital mutilation(FGM), women’s unpaid work, women’s access to economic resources, and
access to sexual and reproductive health, among others 35.

Gender inequality is a key dimension of Communication and Information Poverty because gender issues
affect how women and girls are represented in the media, have access to media platforms, and gain
information and knowledge. Gender inequality also undermines the ability of women and girls to
exercise their right to freedom of expression, which in turn prevents them from fully participating in
decision-making processes about matters that affect their lives. In this sense, Communication and
Information Poverty perpetuates gender inequality in a broader sense and undermines sustainable
development.

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Four targets in particular under Goal 5 highlight the relationship between communication and
information poverty and gender equality. The first is Target 5.1. End all forms of discrimination against
all women and girls everywhere. As WACC’s own research has shown 36, women are under and
misrepresented in media content, a form of discrimination that exacerbates, perpetuates, and
normalizes other forms of discrimination against women and girls.

The second target under Goal 5 is Target 5.2. Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls
in the public sphere, including trafficking and other types of exploitation. Many women and girls around
the world face violence when exercising their right to freedom of expression. This is particularly the case
for women journalists, as many face gender-based violence at work according to a 2017 survey from the
International Federation of Journalists 37.

The third target under Goal 5 is Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal
opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The link
to communication and information issues is evident as women need to have access to communication
platforms and to relevant information in order to enjoy full and effective participation. The reference to
equal opportunities for leadership, also reflected in indicator 5.5.2, is also important as it reinforces the
need to promote women’s leadership within the media sector.

The fourth target under goal 5 is Target 5.B: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular
information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women. As mentioned
earlier, one of the key manifestations of communication and information poverty is limited access to
communication platforms and resources. Having greater access to a mobile phone, as Indicator 5.B.1 for
this Target states, would certainly help address a number of communication and information needs for
many women.

Working towards the achievement of these targets is critical to helping address communication and
information poverty as experienced by women and girls. Nevertheless, as the 2015 Global Media
Monitoring Project (GMMP) report argues, there is significant work to be done to promote gender
equality in the media and communication. Despite considerable effort by activists, allies in the media,
media training institutions and others, achieving gender equality in and through the media remains a
formidable task. The GMMP’s statistical evidence points to a loss of traction in narrowing media gender
disparities over the past decade and regression on some indicators 38.

At the same time, public awareness about the relationship between communication, gender, and
development has grown in recent years, as have the number of initiatives by UN agencies, stakeholder
networks, and civil society organizations. For example, the UNESCO-led Global Alliance for Media and
Gender (GAMAG) – of which WACC is currently serving as General Secretariat – was founded in 2013 to
accelerate the implementation of recommendations on “Women and the Media” contained in “Section J”
of the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action. Similarly, in order to help advance these objectives, in 2016 UN
Women launched the Step It Up for Gender Equality Media Compact to urge media organizations to play
their part in advancing gender equality and women’s rights within the framework of the Post-2015
Development Framework.

Building on this momentum and on the results of the GMMP 2015, in December 2016 WACC launched a
global advocacy campaign entitled End News Media Sexism by 2020. The campaign seeks to increase
action towards news media accountability for gender equality. WACC was also very active at the 62nd
session of the Commission on the Status of Women, whose review theme was “Participation in and access
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of women to the media, and information and communications technologies and their impact on and use
as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women”. These developments reaffirm the
imperative of considering communication issues both from a gender justice and from a human rights
perspective.

Recommendations to Address Communication and Information Poverty from a Gender

Perspective in the Context of Agenda 2030
WACC and its partners applaud the inclusion of Targets related to communication and information
issues within Sustainable Development Goal 5. However, WACC calls on donor governments, national
governments, international institutions, and civil society, to

- Recognize that gender inequality has an impact on the way people access communication and
information, which in turn limits their ability to improve their lives. For example, while gender
disparities in relation to communication and information vary widely depending on context,
men tend to have greater access to information than women, which in turn excludes many
women and girls from participating in decision-making;

- Support initiatives to enable and enhance women and girls’ ability to participate in development
processes, including access to media platforms where they can raise concerns about issues that
affect their lives and opportunities for women’s groups to establish their own media;

- Strengthen research and advocacy related to the representation of women and girls in media
content;

- Promote women and girls’ access to learning opportunities about media literacy, particularly in
relation SDG 4 (Quality Education);

- Promote wide access to public information, particularly in ways that take into account the
gendered dimension of access to information;

- Support efforts to make all media outlets “safe spaces” for women and girls. This can take the
form of internal dialogue, the development of ethical standards, awareness raising, and specially
crafted content. Community media, a form of media that is supposed to reflect values such as
inclusion, diversity, and equality, should take the lead in guiding commercial and public media
towards greater gender equality;

- Promote and strengthen networks of media professionals working for gender equality;

- Encourage and recognize the work of women through public communication via traditional and
digital media platforms. This can take the form of advocacy, awareness raising, and specialized
content;

- Support efforts to tackle patriarchal cultural practices and social norms at all levels, particularly
at the grassroots level. Moreover, support communication and education processes that can
help to raise awareness about the impact of patriarchy on society and help change behaviours in
matters related to gender issues. This should also include working with community and religious
leaders that reinforce patriarchy;
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 - Build the capacity of women and women’s rights organizations at all levels, particularly at the
grassroots level to articulate the ways in which women experience gender inequality;

- Support media training of women to help enable their participation in the media sector as
journalists, editors, and managers.

WACC’s project partners also issued a Declaration39 following the WACC New York Consultation in 2017,
which provided additional recommendations, some of which are:

- Help eliminate gender stereotypes and hate speech from public media, and continually promote
gender equality in the media;

- Incorporate gender-sensitivity, local history and cultural diversity in the education and training
of professionals in the field of communications in order to increase gender sensitivity of
reporting and to eliminate sexist and misogynist media content;

- Ensure freedom of expression for women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups;

- Strengthen the visibility of women and girls from minority and marginalized groups, rural
women, women with disabilities, migrants, refugees, displaced women, and their equal access
to media to be part of media content production, news making and speaking about their
experiences.

- Developing and promoting media tools for gender sensitive reporting (gender sensitive
language, databases of experts, journalist codes) but also continually monitoring their
implementation in media content, in the community of journalists and their associations.

The full text of the New York Declaration can be accessed here.

Examples of Interventions to Address Communication and Information Poverty in the Context of

SDG 5
SDG and relevant Target Key Communication and Information How WACC Partners Have
Poverty Issues Addressed this Issue
SDG 5- Gender Equality Lack of platforms for Indigenous WACC Partner Ixchel Estereo in
women and girls to share ideas and Guatemala
Target 5.1 - End all forms of raise concerns about issues that affect (www.radioixchel.com/) works to
discrimination against all women their lives create spaces for local Indigenous
and girls everywhere women and girls to learn about
Under/misrepresentation of their rights, develop public
Target 5.5 -Ensure women’s full Indigenous women and girls and the communication skills, and raise
and effective participation and issues that affect them in media their concerns through community
equal opportunities for content radio. Ixchel Estereo also seeks to
leadership at all levels of enable women to participate in
decision-making in political, Low levels of media literacy among decision-making processes and to
economic and public life Indigenous women and girls reach managerial positions, both
within the station and in local
institutions.
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 Target 5.b- Enhance the use of Limited access to information among
enabling technology, in particular Indigenous women and girls
information and communications
technology, to promote the
empowerment of women

SDG 5- Gender Equality Under/misrepresentation of women WACC Partner Centro Ecuatoriano

and girls and the issues that affect para la Promocion y Accion de la
Target 5.1 - End all forms of them, such as Gender-Based Violence Mujer –CEPAM in Ecuador
discrimination against all women (GBV) in media content (www.cepamgye.org) works to
and girls everywhere advance the rights of women and
Low levels of media literacy among girls, particularly those from low-
Target 5.2 - Eliminate all forms of Indigenous women and girls that income urban areas. CEPAM has
violence against all women and prevent them critically assessing media over the years carried out
girls in the public and private content and denouncing discriminatory extensive media monitoring
spheres, including trafficking and content focusing on media content that
sexual and other types of perpetuates and normalizes
exploitation Absence of an inclusive media sector violence and discrimination against
that contributes to the promotion of women. Research findings have
human rights, including women’s been used to advocate for a more
human rights responsible and inclusive media
sector.
SDG 5- Gender Equality Lack of access to platforms for women WACC Partner Community Media
and girls in parts of Palestine to raise Centre (www.cmcgaza.ps) in
Target 5.1 - End all forms of concerns about issues that affect them Palestine works to equip women
discrimination against all women and girls with practical
and girls everywhere Under/misrepresentation of women communication skills, knowledge
and girls in Palestine in media content about their rights, and tools to
Target 5.5 - Ensure women’s full document human rights violations.
and effective participation and Low levels of media literacy among A key focus has been on enabling
equal opportunities for women and girls in Palestine women to exercise their right to
leadership at all levels of freedom of expression. This has
decision-making in political, Absence of a free, independent, contributed to a cohort of women
economic and public life inclusive, and pluralistic media and girls who actively participate
in public life by engaging with local
Target 5.b- Enhance the use of officials and using media to create
enabling technology, in particular dialogue about community issues.
information and communications
technology, to promote the
empowerment of women

SDG 9- Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure & SDG 17- Partnership for the Goals

In the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda, SDGs 9 and 17 recognize the need to enable people everywhere to
benefit from access to the internet and to mobile telephony. This represents undeniable progress from a
communication and information perspective as increased access to relevant technology and platforms
can help equip people with the tools to participate in the information society, have their voices heard,
and contribute to the production and dissemination of knowledge. This is especially relevant as it is
estimated that about 3 billion people today lack access to the internet and about 2 billion do not have
access to a mobile phone. 40

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Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) highlights the issue of access to Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the Internet under Target 9.C Significantly increase access to
information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the
Internet in least developed countries by 2020. 41 For national governments, this Goal reinforces their
obligation to provide universal access to basic telecommunication services to their citizens, including to
those living in remote areas. It also creates an opportunity to promote more democratic models for the
development and ownership of communication infrastructure, as exemplified by community-managed
telecommunication company Telecomunicaciones Indigenas Comunitarias (TIC) in Oaxaca, Mexico 42 43.

Goal 17 (Partnership for the Goals) focuses on the finance, technology, capacity, trade, effectiveness,
monitoring issues related to the implementation of Agenda 2030 44. Under the “technology” Target area
of this SDG, two Targets focus on internet access. Target 17.6 Enhance North-South, South-South and
triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation,
Indicator 17.6.2 Fixed Internet broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, by speed; and Target 17.8
Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building
mechanism for least developed countries by 2017 and enhance the use of enabling technology, in
particular information and communications technology, Indicator 17.8.1 Proportion of individuals using
the Internet. Increased access to the internet can have a significant impact on communication and
information needs, especially at the grassroots level 45, particularly as access to services in many parts of
the world is increasingly internet-mediated.

WACC applauds the focus on access to ICTs and Internet services in Agenda 2030. Nevertheless, WACC
and its partners believe that at a time when digital communication is becoming increasingly prevalent
and policymakers in many countries are developing the digital infrastructure and governance models of
the future, it is critical to move beyond the mere celebration of access in order to address more
structural issues. Questions about ownership, regulation, privacy, and illegal surveillance of civil society
actors must be central elements of the conversation about ICTs in development. Some of these issues
have been raised by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the
Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Mr. David Kaye, in his office’s 2015, 2016, and 2017
reports 46.

Agenda 2030 creates an opportunity to advance transparency and accountability in relation to the
digital infrastructure of the 21st century. Failure to address these issues will raise political and ethical
concerns ranging from the subversion of democracy to intrusion into and control over peoples’ lives.
This may ultimately undermine the credibility and legitimacy of digital platforms, as the scandal around
privacy practices at Facebook in 2018 demonstrates 47.

WACC and its partners acknowledge that greater access to the internet and digital platforms alone will
not be sufficient to contribute to sustainable development. It is essential to promote the use of these
new tools in such a way that those communities most often excluded achieve greater participation and
in a way that helps create the political will to implement public policies that contribute to greater equity
and inclusion. This use of digital platforms must occur within a framework of rights that help generate
genuine opportunities for free and informed participation to promote true sustainable development.

Recommendations to Leverage Increased Access to ICTs and to the Internet in order to Address
Communication and Information Poverty
Despite the existence of several problematic aspects in the field of digital communication, such
platforms continue to be vital tools for marginalized communities in that they help influence the media
14
and public policy agendas in favour of their interests, help their communities organize for change, and
encourage active citizenship. WACC and its partners call on donor governments, national governments,
international institutions, and civil society, to

- Support community-initiated efforts to develop and/or manage telecommunications

infrastructure in order to increase access to mobile telephony and internet services

- Promote initiatives that link established community media platforms to ICTs, especially in ways
that promote interactivity and participation. The community media sector has a wealth of
expertise and experience in participatory and democratic participation. Combining community
with ICT can serve to turn increased access to ICTs into community-level participation;

- Facilitate the formation of networks of citizen communicators and journalists belonging to

marginalized communities and social movements so that they can use digital communication
platforms in their advocacy work on issues that affect their communities;

- Advance research about the relationship between access to ICTs, community participation, and
development;

- Promote inter-sectoral partnerships to address violations of human rights online, such as online
violence and illegal surveillance;

- Build digital media production training for marginalized and excluded communities, including
women and girls;

- Support digital media literacy among marginalized and excluded communities, including women
and girls;

- Build the capacity of marginalized and excluded communities, including women and girls, to
develop and use open-source software;

- Build the capacity of civil society organizations to participate in policy making processes related
to communication infrastructure, policy, and digital rights; and

- Promote digital solutions that help enable community participation in decision-making.

These recommendations should be implemented based on the following principles:

- Communication is a fundamental human right;

- Freedom of expression is a central element of communication seen from a rights perspective;

- The contents disseminated by digital platforms must reflect ethics, respect, pluralism and
responsibility;

- The inclusion of traditionally excluded groups, for example people living with disabilities, in the
use of digital platforms is essential to foster pluralism;

15
 - Networks of citizen communicators and journalists should be horizontal, inclusive, multicultural,
and democratic;

- Advocacy using digital tools must be carried out without endangering the security or the rights
of the people involved; the use of encryption technologies is critical to achieve this; and

- Collaboration and networking are fundamental elements for the success of any digital advocacy
effort.

Examples of Interventions to Address Communication and Information Poverty in the Context of

SDG 9 and 17, esp. in relation to access to the internet and digital technologies

SDG 9- Industry, Innovation, and Limited affordable, reliable, and secure WACC’s Communication Rights
Infrastructure access to digital communication Schools are annual week-long
platforms and to the internet seminars organized in partnership
Target 9.C- Significantly increase with local academic or civil society
access to information and Low levels of digital media literacy organizations that seek to foster
communications technology and knowledge exchange on the
strive to provide universal and Limited or reduced access to ethical dimensions of
affordable access to the Internet information, including public communication in today’s world.
in least developed countries by information, via digital communication Communication Rights Schools
2020 channels bring together academics and
communication practitioners from
SDG 17- Partnership for the Restrictions to freedom of expression around the world to interrogate
Goals and freedom of association online and generate ideas in relation to
structural communication issues,
Target 17.8- Fully operationalize such as the ownership and
the technology bank and science, regulation of digital platforms,
technology and innovation privacy, illegal surveillance in
capacity-building mechanism for digital spaces, and gender-based
least developed countries by violence on the internet. Past
2017 and enhance the use of Communication Rights schools
enabling technology, in particular have been held in Nairobi (Kenya),
information and communications Wittenberg (Germany), Mandeville
technology (Jamaica), Toronto (Canada), and
Geneva (Switzerland).

SDG 16- Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The 2030 Agenda, within the framework of Goal 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) recognizes
that democracy, good governance and the rule of law play a fundamental role in achieving sustainable
development 48. Open and democratic access to communication and information underpins the
achievement of all these objectives as it can help promote social inclusion, peaceful conflict resolution,
advance the rule of law, shed light on corruption, promote trust in institutions, and enable participation.
It is also directly linked to fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression and freedom of
association. A number of Targets within this goal have a direct link to communication and information
issues.

Target 16.1 Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere is strongly
linked to media and communication issues. Open and trust-based communication has the potential to
16
help ameliorate conflict situations, promote a culture of dialogue, and advance non-violent conflict
resolution. Peace-oriented media can also create spaces for meaningful exchange among perceived
adversaries. Responsible and ethical media coverage of conflict can help counter hate speech, change
perceptions and behaviours, and ensure access to information on conflict prevention.

Target 16.3 Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to
justice for all is intimately linked to information and communication issues. Media freedom, access to
information, and freedom of expression is essential to keep institutions, including justice institutions, in
check, as well as to promote trust in the justice system.

Target 16.5 Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms has a strong relationship to
media freedom issues, as media outlets and investigative journalists need the necessary protection and
safeguards to ensure they can carry out their work effectively. It would be difficult to reduce corruption
when the media is concentrated in a few hands and journalists do not have the freedom to investigate
cases of corruption.

In relation to Target 16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels, it is
clear that freedom of information and other communication rights are essential to promote
transparency and accountability within public institutions. The media ought to reflect the views of all
sectors of society, especially the views of the most disadvantaged people in society, in order to achieve
greater transparency and effectiveness within public institutions.

Target 16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels
has multiple connections to communication and information issues. An essential element of exercising
communication rights is the opportunity for people to participate in decision-making, especially in
relation to issues that directly affect their lives. This requires access to information, particularly public
information. People must also be able to exercise their right to freedom of expression, have access to
relevant means of communication and be guaranteed their right of reply and redress. People also have
the right to participate in the “formulation and governance of the communication sphere… at the
national level, but also in the context of international relations” 49.

Target 16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with
national legislation and international agreements has numerous connections to communication and
information issues. The two Indicators under this Target reflect that: Indicator 16.10.1 Number of
verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of
journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists and human rights advocates in the previous 12
months and Indicator 16.10.2 Number of countries that adopt and implement constitutional, statutory
and/or policy guarantees for public access to information. The inclusion of this Target and Indicators in
Agenda 2030 is commendable. While an indicator related to freedom of expression would have
strengthened this Target, especially in relation to the reference to “fundamental freedoms”, this Target
is still central for all those working on addressing communication and information poverty.

Target 16.B. Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development can
also be examined from a communication and information perspective. Numerous groups in society face
discrimination and other barriers in relation to communication and information. For example, many
indigenous people are unable to access public information in their language, preventing them from
participating in society.

17
In sum, the explicit references to communication and information issues within Goal 16 are limited to
access to public information and to the protection of journalists and other human rights defenders. In
this sense, the Goal fails to reference pivotal issues such as freedom of expression, linguistic rights,
digital convergence, and media ownership and control that are firmly related to peace, justice, and
strong democratic institutions. Nevertheless, the many instances in which communication and
information issues implicitly intersect with the Targets of SDG 16, as listed above, represent valuable
opportunities for those tackling communication and information poverty. These intersections allow
groups working in fields such as community media, media monitoring, advocacy on access to
information, participatory communication, and citizen journalism to make direct links to specific SDGs in
order to highlight the importance of their work and to gain broader support for it.

Recommendations to address communication and information poverty in the context of

SDG 16
WACC and its partners call on donors, national governments, international institutions, and civil society:

- At the national level, to support an audit of existing communication and information laws and
regulations in order to identify systemic policy and legal issues that undermine the rule of law,
the struggle against corruption, trust-based relationships between citizens and institutions,
participatory decision-making, fundamental freedoms, and the fight against discrimination;

- At the national level, to convene a summit of key stakeholders (civil society, public sector, media
and communication organizations) to discuss communication and information poverty issues
based on the national audit described above;

- To develop awareness-raising campaigns about the ways in which communication and

information poverty undermines peace, justice, and strong institutions;

- To work towards a Communication Rights Charter as a way to galvanize support around the
need to address communication and information poverty;

- To support community media, particularly community radio, as it can be an effective

communication platform to enable individuals and communities to participate in decision-
making and access relevant information, particularly when strategically linked to social media
platforms or SMS systems. Community media outlets that actively facilitate listeners’ groups and
are linked to people’s organizations should be prioritized. This support should include extensive
capacity building and efforts to link community stations with one another in order to share
knowledge and technical expertise;

- To protect journalists and media workers linked to community media outlets, most of whom
lack the support of established media organizations;

- To support and strengthen the role of independent public service media as one of the
cornerstones of diverse and pluralistic media systems;

- To support the integration of media literacy into education systems, including adult education
initiatives, in order to equip people with the knowledge and skills to demand transparent and
accountable institutions and to participate in decision-making;

18
 - To support interpersonal communication efforts. Peace, access to justice, and more productive
relationships between citizens and institutions can be greatly advanced through interpersonal
communication processes, such as community dialogue, public forums, public art, etc. These are
spaces where ideas can be discussed and shared. Communication processes must be
consultative and non-hierarchical in order to lead to meaningful change;

- To highlight the experience of marginalized communities in public communication from a

pluralistic perspective. This can help to strengthen institutions and to create spaces for new
issues to be discussed. This can take the form of media content, especially when produced by
communities themselves, which sheds light on the stories of those communities in order to
promote awareness and international solidarity. This can help to address under- and
misrepresentation, a phenomenon that undermines peaceful coexistence, fair treatment, and
social cohesion;

- To build the strategic communications capacity of civil society organizations in order to enable
them better to effect change. This also entails access to communication technologies and
resources;

- To promote a diverse, open, free, accountable, and democratic media system;

- To defend the rights of freedom of assembly and association, including in online spaces, in order
to enable people to participate in decision-making, hold institutions and decision-makers to
account, and guarantee human rights; and

- To build the capacity of civil society organizations to participate in policy-making processes,

particularly in relation to communication and information issues.

Examples of Interventions to Address Communication and Information Poverty in the Context of

SDG 16
SDG 16- Peace, Justice, and Lack of platforms for youth affected by WACC Partner Grupo Comunicarte
Strong Institutions conflict to engage in dialogue, build a (www.grupocomunicarte.org) in
sense of collective identity, develop Colombia works with a community
Target 16.1 Significantly reduce communication skills, and raise radio station and students from 12
all forms of violence and related concerns about their issues public schools in the town of
death rates everywhere Arauquita, close to Colombia’s
Under/misrepresentation of youth border with Venezuela, to create
affected by conflict in media content spaces for dialogue, active
citizenship, and the construction of a
Low levels of media literacy among culture of peaceful conflict
youth affected by conflict prevents resolution. The project also helped
them from critically engaging with to create a sense of belonging
media content that normalizes or among youth affected by the armed
glamourizes conflict conflict as a way to prevent them
from being recruited by criminal
groups. The project took place in a
post-conflict context following the
historic 2016 peace agreements in
Colombia.

19
 SDG 16- Peace, Justice, and Lack of platforms for people denied WACC Partner Asamblea
Strong Institutions access to justice following the Permanente por los Derechos
atrocities committed during the Humanos-APDH in Argentina
Target 16.3 Promote the rule of Argentinian military dictatorship to (www.apdh-argentina.org.ar) has
law at the national and raise their concerns been working to ensure that the
international levels and ensure process of Memory, Truth, and
equal access to justice for all Under/misrepresentation of people Justice launched to address the
affected by the crimes committed systematic human rights violations
during the dictatorship in media committed during Argentina’s
content, which contributes to a military dictatorship continues. The
deterioration of historical memory process is at risk due to limited
among the public political will, which means that there
is a real risk that the achievements
Limited access to information, of the past few years could be
including public information, about the reversed. APDH is working to build
crimes committed during the the capacity of community and
dictatorship and about justice and/or mainstream media journalists to
reparations for victims and their report on the process and
families encourage media houses to shed
light on the issue.
SDG 16- Peace, Justice, and Lack of access to platforms at the WACC Partner Swaziland
Strong Institutions grassroots level to meaningfully raise Community Multimedia Network-
concerns SCMN
Target 16.10- Ensure public www.facebook.com/community
access to information and protect Under/misrepresentation of grassroots MultimediaNetwork in Swaziland
fundamental freedoms, in communities in media (eSwatini) works to change media
accordance with national legislation and policy to allow for
legislation and international Limited access to relevant information community media to operate freely
agreements among people not reached by other and independently. The Network is
forms of media comprised of a several web-based
community communication
Exclusion from decision-making initiatives that voice local concerns
processes for many communities who and represent essential spaces for
lack information and platforms to community participation. The
advance their agendas Network plays a crucial role is
advancing freedom of expression
Absence of a free, independent, and other fundamental freedoms in
inclusive, and pluralistic media the country.

How Communication and Information Poverty Relates to Other SDGs

In addition to focusing on the four SDGs examined above, WACC and its partners explored the link
between communication and information and the rest of the SDGs. The chart below provides examples
of key communication and information poverty issues that need to be addressed in order to help
achieve the goals and targets of Agenda 2030. Where available, the chart provides examples of specific
projects carried out by WACC partners over the past 5 years that have sought to address issues
highlighted by specific SDGs.

SDG and relevant Target Examples of Key Communication and How WACC Partners Have Addressed
Information Poverty Issues these Issues
SDG 1- No Poverty Under/misrepresentation of rural WACC Partner SAMWAKI in the
poverty issues in media coverage Democratic Republic of the Congo

20
Target 1.1- By 2030, eradicate (www.samwaki.org/) addresses the
extreme poverty for all people Limited access to information about lack of media coverage of rural
everywhere, currently measured rural poverty, its causes, poverty in local media in the
as people living on less than consequences, and potential solutions province of South Kivu. SAMWAKI
$1.25 a day among the general public, as well as monitored media coverage and used
Target 1.2- By 2030, reduce at among people in rural areas the findings to engage media houses,
least by half the proportion of local government, and civil society
men, women and children of all Lack of platforms where people from organizations in joint work. Limited
ages living in poverty in all its rural communities can raise their coverage contributes to a lack of
dimensions according to national concerns understanding of the underlying
definitions issues that perpetuate this form of
poverty, such as access to land or
Target 1.4 By 2030, ensure that gender dynamics, among the public.
all men and women, in particular It also means that many rural
the poor and the vulnerable, communities do not see their needs
have equal rights to economic reflected in media coverage.
resources, as well as access to
basic services, ownership and
control over land and other forms
of property, inheritance, natural
resources, appropriate new
technology and financial services,
including microfinance
SDG 2- Zero Hunger Lack platforms form rural women to WACC Partner People’s Coalition on
raise their concerns about food Food Sovereignty (www.foodsov.org)
Target 2.3 By 2030, end hunger security issues in the Philippines builds the capacity
and ensure access by all people, of rural women to advocate for their
in particular the poor and people Underrepresentation of food security right to food, especially in a context
in vulnerable situations, including issues, especially as experienced by marked by increasingly technical
infants, to safe, nutritious and rural women, in media content language around food security. The
sufficient food all year round organization also work sought to
Exclusion of rural women from increase media coverage of food
decision-making processes around food security issues. It documented and
and agricultural policy disseminated materials describing
food-related issues and solutions
proposed by rural communities, such
as cooperative systems and support
for family farming.
SDG 3- Good Health and Well- Lack of platforms for people affected WACC Partner Fundación
Being by low-income high-cost chronic Comunicación Positiva
diseases raise their concerns about the (www.comunicacionpositiva.org) in
Target 3.3 Achieve universal health system and advocate for their Colombia strengthened the capacity
health coverage, including right to health of groups of low-income people
financial risk protection, access to living with high-cost chronic diseases
quality essential health-care Low levels of media literacy among to use citizen journalism to advocate
services and access to safe, low-income people living with high- for their right to healthcare. Patients
effective, quality and affordable cost chronic diseases, which prevents were supported in the creation of a
essential medicines and vaccines them from accessing information series of podcasts sharing their
for all stories, received training on
Limited access to information about advocacy and on navigating the
health services and legal mechanisms health system, and were connected
among low-income people living with to broader health advocacy networks
high-cost chronic diseases

21
SDG 4- Quality Education Unavailability of education in WACC Partner Radio Likhu
Indigenous languages contributes to (www.soundcloud.com/uttamkumar-
Target 4.1- By 2030, ensure that many forms of communication and sunuwar) in Nepal works to ensure
all girls and boys complete free, information poverty, such as: that children of the Sunuwar (Koits)
equitable and quality primary and Indigenous community are able to
secondary education leading to - Under/misrepresentation of access education in their mother
relevant and effective learning Indigenous people in media tongue, as mandated by the
outcomes content country’s constitution. Radio Likhu
- Low levels of literacy and works towards this goal by informing
Target 4.5 By 2030, eliminate media literacy among Sunuwar communities about their
gender disparities in education Indigenous people education rights and is helping to
and ensure equal access to all - Limited access to information build a movement to call for change.
levels of education and among Indigenous people Access to culturally and linguistically
vocational training for the - Exclusion of Indigenous relevant education is crucial in
vulnerable, including persons people from decision making enhancing the quality of teaching
with disabilities, indigenous processes and learning.
peoples and children in
vulnerable situations
SDG 5- Gender Equality Please see section above on SDG 5
SDG 8- Decent Work and Lack of platforms for women migrants WACC Partner Asia Pacific Mission
Economic Growth to connect with one another and to for Migrants – APMM
raise concerns about labour conditions (www.apmigrants.org) in Hong Kong,
Target 8.8 Protect labour rights China, engaged women migrant
and promote safe and secure Limited access to information about workers from the Philippines and
working environments for all immigration processes and labour Indonesia living in Hong Kong, South
workers, including migrant standards among women migrants, Korea, and Taiwan in the production
workers, in particular women especially as a result of language of short podcasts in mp3 format
migrants, and those in precarious barriers about their personal stories, labour
employment rights, access to services, and
Restrictions to freedom of association denouncing abuse. The content was
and assembly for migrant workers disseminated through digital
platforms so women could easily
download it, share it, and listen to it
during their work day. The content
helped to create a sense of
belonging among women with very
limited opportunities to socialize.
SDG 9- Industry, Innovation, and Limited access to the internet and WACC Partner Community Media
Infrastructure other communication platforms among Network of Uganda- COMNETU
Target 9.C- Significantly increase low-income communities, especially (www.comnetu.org) works to
access to information and women address the digital gender divide by
communications technology and providing affordable internet access
strive to provide universal and to low income women. COMNETU
affordable access to the Internet has combined internet access with
in least developed countries by capacity building on business
2020 development and access to
community radio advertising airtime.
This has resulted in the
establishment of new income-
generation opportunities in some
communities.
SDG 10- Reduced Inequalities Lack of platforms for members of the WACC Partner LGBT*IQA Association
LGBTQ community in the Balkans to Okvir (http://www.okvir.org/) in

22
Target 10.2- By 2030, empower freely discuss their experiences during Bosnia and Herzegovina uses
and promote the social, the years of armed conflict and to raise storytelling, multimedia content, and
economic and political inclusion their concerns ICTs to document and raise the
of all, irrespective of age, sex, visibility of the impact of LGBTQA
disability, race, ethnicity, origin, Under/Misrepresentation of LGBTQA activism in relation to security
religion or economic or other people in media content, often policies, political change, and gender
status involving hate speech diversity issues during the armed
conflict and transitional justice
Target 13.3- Ensure equal Limited access among the LGBTQ period (1990 to 2016). Despite a
opportunity and reduce community and among the general social climate that allows hate
inequalities of outcome, including public of the impact that LGBTQ speech and discrimination against
by eliminating discriminatory activism has had in helping to build a the LGBTQ community, which
laws, policies and practices and more inclusive society contributes to their institutional,
promoting appropriate economic, and social
legislation, policies and action in marginalization, Okvir’s Queer
this regard Archive has opened up safe spaces
for community members to raise
their voices.
SDG 11- Sustainable Cities and Lack of platforms for those affected by WACC Partner AlterMidya Network
Communities lack of housing to raise their concerns in the Philippines
(www.altermidya.net/) works to
Target 11.1- By 2030, ensure Under/misrepresentation of the urban provide urban poor communities
access for all to adequate, safe poor in media seeking access to housing with
and affordable housing and basic communication platforms to
services and upgrade slums Exclusion of marginalized communities facilitate organizing and demand
from decision-making about urban change, to explain their views in
Target 11.3- By 2030, enhance development and housing policies digital and traditional media, and
inclusive and sustainable counter negative stereotypes about
urbanization and capacity for urban poverty issues.
participatory, integrated and
sustainable human settlement
planning and management in all
countries
SDG 13- Climate Action Lack of platforms for marginalized rural WACC Partner Getjenge Community
communities to raise their concerns Radio in Zimbabwe (www.pdt.co.zw)
Target 13.1- Strengthen resilience about the ways climate change affect engages community members in
and adaptive capacity to climate- their livelihoods dialogue about Indigenous and
related hazards and natural traditional knowledge that can help
disasters in all countries Limited access among marginalized with climate change mitigation,
rural communities to information adaptation, and risk reduction.
Target 13.3- Improve education, about climate change Getjenge believes that marginalized
awareness-raising and human rural communities who are typically
and institutional capacity on Limited access among the general excluded from conversations about
climate change mitigation, public and policy makers about the climate change (as materials are
adaptation, impact reduction and ways Indigenous and traditional usually in English and use technical
early warning knowledge can help with mitigation, language) should be at the centre of
adaptation, and risk reduction this conversation, especially as their
livelihoods are the most likely to be
Exclusion of marginalized rural affected by changes in climate
communities from decision-making patterns. Getjenge works towards
processes about climate policy this goal by helping to mainstream
indigenous knowledge and culture

23
 into climate policy in Matabeleland
province.
SDG 15- Life on Land Lack of platforms for communities WACC Partner La Sandia Digital
affected by deforestation and the (www.lasandiadigital.org.mx/) in
Target 15.1- By 2020, ensure the destruction of ecosystems to engage in Mexico works to build the capacity
conservation, restoration and dialogue and raise their concerns of rural communities (many of whom
sustainable use of terrestrial and are peasants and Indigenous
inland freshwater ecosystems Under/misrepresentation of people communities) to use media to
and their services, in particular working to protect forests and water defend water systems and forests
forests, wetlands, mountains and systems from extractive projects (such as
drylands, in line with obligations mining, agro-industry) that put
under international agreements Limited access to information, biodiversity, livelihoods, and
including public information, among people’s lives at risk while also
Target 15.2- By 2020, promote the general public about deforestation undermining the role that forests
the implementation of and its consequences play as carbon sinks. La Sandia Digital
sustainable management of all creates opportunities for
types of forests, halt Exclusion of communities affected by communities to engage in dialogue
deforestation, restore degraded deforestation from decision-making and organize for change, helps
forests and substantially increase processes about development provide platforms for those affected
afforestation and reforestation to share their views, and trains
globally Absence of a free and independent journalists about coverage of
media sector that sheds light on environmental issues.
Target 15.4- By 2030, ensure the environmental issues
conservation of mountain
ecosystems, including their
biodiversity, in order to enhance
their capacity to provide benefits
that are essential for sustainable
development
SDG 16- Peace, Justice, and Please see section above on SDG 16
Strong Institutions
SDG 17- Partnerships for the Please see section above on SDG 17
Goals

Beyond Agenda 2030

As part of the process that led to the drafting of this document, WACC and its partners identified a
number of key areas that are essential to advancing sustainable development from a communication
and information perspective but which are absent from Agenda 2030.

Democratizing Communication and Information Ecosystems by Bolstering Civil Society

Participation in Communication and Information Policy Making
Many of the structural issues that perpetuate information and communication poverty are linked to the
legislative and policy frameworks that govern media and information systems, many of which in turn
reflect power dynamics in society that exclude certain groups from media landscapes. UNESCO’s Media
Development Indicators, which are widely accepted around the world as the main framework to assess
media development 50, exemplify the work needed to make media systems more inclusive, transparent,
and pluralistic from a policy perspective. Current work by UNESCO to develop Internet Universality
Indicators 51 in order to promote a more open, rights-based, and inclusive internet is also critical, and
promises to become more significant as digital and internet-based communication innovations emerge.
24
WACC and its partners around the world believe that civil society should be an active participant in the
development of legislative and policy frameworks to democratize communication, media, and
information ecosystems. We believe that civil society around the world has much to learn from the
experience of a number of civil society organizations from Latin America which over the past 15 years
have advocated for more democratic communication, media, and information ecosystems in their
national contexts.

Latin American Civil Society Engagement in Communication Policymaking

During the first two decades of the 21st century, governments of several Latin American countries, in
most cases with the support of civil society actors, developed new laws and public policy frameworks
that sought to democratize access to the media. Some examples among others are the Organic Law of
Communication in Ecuador; the General Law of Telecommunications, Information and Communication
Technologies in Bolivia; the Audiovisual Communication Services Law in Argentina; the Media Law in
Uruguay.

These new policies have generally had elements in common. For example, these policies promoted the
equitable distribution of licenses between clearly defined sectors: public, private or commercial, and
community. In some cases there is also a fourth sector: the indigenous communication sector. Another
element in common is the existence of rules to prevent and/or discourage the concentration of media in
a few hands, especially in the hands of foreign or domestic capital conglomerates whose influence in
other sectors of the country’s economy is too great. In general, these policies have also included the
establishment of regulatory agencies with the ability to impose sanctions to enforce the new rules.

Many of the new media regulation frameworks have faced numerous obstacles. On the one hand, the
private and commercial sectors, accustomed to a much more favourable regime, have opposed the
implementation of new policies, arguing that they constitute attacks on press freedom and freedom of
expression. On the other hand, in many cases these new regulations have occurred in highly politicized
environments and have been seen as tools for the governments of the day to promote their political
agendas. This politicization in many cases has reduced the legitimacy of these processes and has made
them vulnerable to electoral change, as in the case of Argentina.

In addition, there have been many failures in the implementation of these new frameworks, such as a
lack of concrete and sustainable mechanisms to strengthen the community broadcasting sector, a sector
on which production quotas were often imposed that were difficult to meet. However, despite such
problems, it is undeniable that these processes of democratization of the media represent a step
forward for communication rights.

Civil society played a central role in the development of these new media regulation frameworks, in
many cases openly supporting and promoting them. Many civil society actors have tried to maintain an
independent position, especially in contexts where the issue of media regulation has been politicized,
while other actors have decided to align themselves more closely with clearer political positions. In
some cases, this dynamic led to deep divisions within civil society in those countries.

New models for the media regulation seen in places such as Uruguay and Ecuador contrast with the
models of countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Chile and Peru, and most countries of Central
America and the Caribbean, which have not undergone major changes in recent years. Most of these
countries have legal frameworks for the regulation of media that in one way or another try to
discourage the concentration of media, but the reality is that a market logic prevails in the field of
25
communication in these countries. In some cases, the community media sector is recognized, as in
Colombia and El Salvador, but in others, such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Peru, the sector is
either not recognized or faces great difficulties in order to operate legally. Cuba is an exception to the
rule, because although the private sector does not play any role in the country’s media, the state sector
covers most of the media, in many cases excluding the community sector.

In addition to public advocacy to democratize access to the media, coalitions of civil society
organizations in several Latin American countries have also contributed to the development of legal
frameworks and public policies on other issues related to communication. For example, during the past
15 years several coalitions have emerged that contributed to changes in access to public information, as
in the case of Brazil and Mexico, and to changes in legal frameworks that criminalized contempt and
certain forms of public expression, such as in the case of Chile and Guatemala 52.

Recommendations to Promote Civil Society Participation in Policy Making About Communication

and Information
Bearing in mind that the path towards more democratic legal and public communication policies are
long-term processes and that their success depends in part on the political will of the government at the
time, and that private sector actors can resist any change, the central recommendation from WACC
partners to development stakeholders was to support the development of civil society coalitions at the
national level interested in promoting concrete changes to communication and information legislation
and policy, related to issues such as access to information, internet governance, and media regulation.
This recommendation is based on the belief that civil society is a crucial actor in the struggle for more
open, inclusive, and democratic media ecosystems.

Such coalitions must be diverse, inclusive and open spaces for dialogue with different actors, but they
must also have the capacity to develop clear common agendas and objectives. This type of coalition
must also have the tools to produce and disseminate knowledge, interact with state agencies, establish
alliances with sectors of civil society that have not traditionally been involved in communication
activism, and influence public opinion in favour of the democratization of communication. It is also
essential that they be participatory coalitions so that they are truly legitimate

Support for the development of these coalitions on the part of external development stakeholders
should be a medium-term project in order to lay the foundations of movements that can monitor the
implementation of any communication policy, and that can be mobilized when there are setbacks.

These coalitions must start from the following common principles:

- Communication is a human right that allows for the defence and promotion of other rights;

- The right to freedom of expression is an essential part of the right to communication;

- Cultural diversity is fundamental to achieve a more democratic communication system. The

existence of a regulatory framework that promotes cultural expression, including those of
marginalized groups, is necessary to guarantee cultural diversity;

- The electromagnetic spectrum is a common good and must be democratized. For this, there
must be clear and equitable rules on the ownership and concentration of the means of
communication to avoid the concentration of power in a few hands;

26
 - Citizens have the right to participate in governance processes and decision-making on
communication policies;

- Community and citizen media are expressions of the right to communication and should be
supported; and

- Efficient and equitable access to public information must be guaranteed

Donors, governments, international institutions, and other development stakeholders are called to
support the formation of these coalitions through capacity building, technical expertise, access to
financial resources, and opportunities to advance their agendas at regional and international forums.

Investing in Media Literacy for the Digital Age

The emergence of numerous digital communication platforms such as social networks and smartphones
over the last decade has been accompanied by the hope that these platforms would help democratize
communication ecosystems and help bring about social change. For instance, citizen journalism offered
great potential as a counterweight to mainstream news media as it represented an opportunity for the
mobilization of marginalized communities in addition to broadening access to information and
knowledge.

However, despite the fact that in many cases these digital platforms have helped generate greater
awareness of various social problems, there is a growing sense of caution concerning the risks that these
new platforms present to society. For instance, the explosion of “fake news” has shown that digital
platforms can be used to manipulate and influence media agendas unscrupulously and to attack
democratic processes.

Today, media ecosystems are characterizes by a convergence of digital and traditional media, a
fragmentation of audiences, issues of privacy, and a lack of transparency about how decisions governing
communication and information flows are made.

Despite these new realities, in their curricula most educational systems have failed to reflect the need
for students to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate a world that is increasingly
mediated and digitized. This need is especially relevant in the context of SDG 4 – Quality Education.

Donors, governments, international institutions, and other development stakeholders are called to
support the inclusion of comprehensive and information and media literacy programmes in the
education systems of countries around the world.

Addressing the Communication and Information Needs of Marginalized and Historically

Excluded Communities
WACC and its partners believe that social inclusion has to be at the heart of efforts to address
communication and information poverty. This entails recognizing that there are groups in society whose
communication and information needs are routinely ignored in the context of development. This can be
the result of issues such as language barriers, prejudice, geographical distance, or differences in access
to media platforms. Some of the groups whose communication and information needs are rarely
addressed include people living with disabilities, migrants, ethno-cultural minorities, and people from
the LGBTQ communities, among others.

27
Over the years, WACC has been a staunch supporter of the communication rights of Indigenous peoples,
one of the groups whose communication and information needs have most often been overlooked
around the world by policymakers and decision makers. WACC has reaffirmed its commitment to the
communication rights of Indigenous people over the past five years, supporting and accompanying
several Indigenous communication initiatives in places such as Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Nepal, and the
Philippines. As a result, the consultation process that led to the drafting of this document included
spaces to discuss the relationship between the rights of Indigenous people and communication rights.

Communication, the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Agenda 2030

Today, among the world’s current population of 6.7 billion people, there are more than 370 million
Indigenous people in over 72 countries. Practicing unique traditions, they retain social, cultural,
economic and political characteristics that distinguish them from those of the dominant societies in
which they live. From the Arctic to the South Pacific, they are the descendants – according to a
commonly accepted definition – of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at a time
when other people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived.

Indigenous peoples are distinctive through their particular way of life, beliefs, and relationship to the
environment. Many have left their traditional life for towns and cities, or work for wages part of the
time and return to the land at other times. Indigenous people often practice mixed livelihoods, but in
most cases, a subsistence economy is the basis of how they make their living. For indigenous peoples,
“traditional environmental knowledge” is at the heart of their identity and culture – understood as the
actual living of life rather than just the knowledge of how to live. Indigenous peoples are the custodians
of unique languages, knowledge systems and beliefs and they possess invaluable knowledge of practices
in the sustainable management of natural resources.

Many indigenous groups have faced multiple waves of assimilation, colonization, and in some cases,
genocide. Today, Indigenous peoples often suffer from poor political representation and participation,
economic marginalization and poverty and lack access to social services and cultural discrimination.

On 13 September 2007 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), reflecting global concern that Indigenous peoples continue to suffer from
historical injustices that prevent them from exercising their rights. The Declaration acknowledged the
fact that Indigenous peoples are organizing for political, economic, social and cultural development, and
that they have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and
cultural institutions. The UNDRIP is one the key framework for addressing some of the global issues that
undermine the rights of indigenous peoples, such as climate change, threats to biological and cultural
diversity, land grabbing, inequitable food production and distribution, and the curtailment of public
services

The UNDRIP highlights a number of communication issues such as access to information, media
representation, intellectual property rights, ownership and control of the media, and cultural diversity.

WACC and its partners believe that the communication dimension of indigenous rights is critical to
realizing such rights. Without a rights-based approach to decision-making, media platforms, and culture,
the rights of indigenous people cannot be fully guaranteed. This belief has been echoed by numerous
gatherings of Indigenous communicators, such as the International Encounter on Indigenous Peoples’
Communication and Development, held in Bolivia in 2006, which reaffirmed the importance of
28
communication as a fundamental element in the liberation, transformation and development of society
and the validation of the rights of Indigenous peoples. 53

According to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights, “Indigenous peoples
participated from the start in the global consultation process towards the 2030 Agenda, and their
advocacy resulted in a framework that makes explicit references to Indigenous peoples’ development
concerns and is founded on principles of universality, human rights, equality and environmental
sustainability – core priorities for indigenous peoples… Many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
and targets are relevant to indigenous peoples and have direct linkages to the human rights
commitments in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. There are six direct references
to indigenous peoples in the 2030 Agenda, including in Goal 2 related to agricultural output of
indigenous small-scale farmers, and Goal 4 on equal access to education for indigenous children”. 54

Despite these positive developments, a number of Indigenous groups were disappointed with the lack of
attention to issues such as the right to self-determination; the principle of free, prior and informed
consent; and collective rights. 55

Recommendations to Address the Communication and Information Needs of Indigenous Peoples

Participants in WACC’s consultations reaffirmed their belief that communication can be a transformative
factor for many Indigenous peoples because it can help strengthen their social fabric, improve
governance processes, promote culture in all its diversity, and build bridges with other communities and
social actors. These changes can help reinforce the vision enshrined in the UNDRIP and the Goals
promoted by Agenda 2030.

Key recommendations for development stakeholders are:

- Promote local processes of Indigenous community communication, and the development of

networks of indigenous communicators, through training, accompaniment, visibility, and access
to resources;

- Provide legal and technical advice to Indigenous communities involved in communication

processes, such as the establishment of community radio stations; and

- Provide support to the development of national knowledge exchange networks between

communicators (both from the community sector and from state and private sectors),
Indigenous leaders, and researchers to achieve alliances;

These recommendations should be implemented based on the following principles:

- Indigenous peoples have the right to have their voices be part of the communicative
ecosystem of the society in which they live. They have the human right to communication;

- Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain their independence and autonomy in the field of
communication;

- Cultural diversity, participation, inclusion, and pluralism are essential elements of any
Indigenous communication process that aspires to promote the rights of Indigenous peoples;

29
 - Indigenous communication takes many forms. Orality and ancestral stories are central
elements of indigenous communication;

- Indigenous communication should contribute to the empowerment of Indigenous peoples and

strengthen their participation in decision-making processes;

- Indigenous communication must contribute to gender equality;

- Indigenous communication is a process based on respect that seeks, among other things, the
recovery and/or promotion of the customs, traditions, and beliefs of indigenous peoples; and

- The promotion of the communication rights of indigenous peoples should take as a starting
point the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and
Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Donors, governments, international institutions, and other development stakeholders are called to take
these recommendations into account in order to help address the communication and information
needs of indigenous people in the context of advancing the objectives of Agenda 2030.

About WACC
The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), as a pioneer of the communication rights
movement since its foundation in 1968, has been among the few global organizations working to
advance the communication rights of marginalized communities around the world. Over the past 50
years, WACC has partnered with thousands of grassroots communities, from Indigenous groups to
women’s groups to youth groups, to advance communication rights in their local contexts while also
advocating for systemic changes in terms of communication-related legislation and policy at the
national, regional, and international levels.

WACC is uniquely placed to promote the concept and practice of communication rights in order to
advance social justice by challenging discriminatory political, sociocultural, and economic structures.
This is because WACC has extensive networks of partners in countries around the world, particularly at
the grassroots level, and because WACC is widely recognized as an organization with an unwavering
commitment to supporting the rights of those who lack a voice to make themselves heard. For more
about WACC, please visit www.waccglobal.org.

30
Annex 1-List of Participants in WACC Consultations on the SDGs
Hong Kong Consultation (December 2017)

1. Samuel Meshack, WACC Asia, India

2. Gitiara Nasreen, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
3. Soonim Lee, Olive Tree Productions, South Korea
4. Niel Lopez, Resource Center For People’s Advocacies in Southern Mindanao, Philippines
5. Jimmy Okello, Community Media Network Uganda, Uganda
6. Adeline Nsimire, Sauti ya Mwanamke Kijijini, Democratic Republic of Congo
7. Biak Hnin, Global Chin Christian Fellowship, Myanmar
8. Jose Enrique Africa, IBON Foundation, Philippines
9. Seck Medoune, Réseau Inter - Africain pour les Femmes, Médias, Genre et Développement,
Sénégal
10. Suman Basnet, AMARC Asia Pacific, Nepal
11. Ashek Elahi, People’s Research on Grassroots Ownership & Traditional Initiative, Bangladesh
12. Golam Mourtoza, Centre for Communication and Development, Bangladesh
13. Athanase Kabore, Farm Radio International, Burkina Faso
14. Ruth Omukhango, African Woman and Child Features Service, Kenya
15. Chirstopher Pasion, Pinoy Media Center, Philippines
16. Margaret Bukirwa, Uganda Media Women’s Association, Uganda
17. Syed Tarikul Islam, Alliance for Cooperation and Legal Aid Bangladesh, Bangladesh
18. Sawssen Gharbi, Association Rayhana de femme de Jendouba, Tunisia
19. Vincent Rajkumar, Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, India
20. Frank Jabson, Creative Centre for Communication and Development, Zimbabwe
21. Ramon Boultron, Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, Hong Kong
22. Rey Asis, Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, Hong Kong
23. Ramakrishnan Nagarajan, Ideosync Media Combine, India
24. Caesar Jonah David, National Council of Churches in India, India

31
 25. Gerifel Cerillo, Karapatan Alliance Philippines, Philippines
26. Benjamin Alforque, Communication Foundation for Asia, Philippines
27. Kudzai Kwangwari, Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations, Zimbabwe
28. Michael Beltran, Kalipunan Ng Damayang Mahihirap, Philippines
29. Ambrose Zwane, Swaziland Community Multimedia Network, Swaziland
30. Rhea Padilla, Altermidya - People’s Alternative Media Network, Philippines

New York Consultation (March 2017)

1. Sandra Chaher, Asociación Civil Comunicación para la Igualdad, Argentina

2. Nadia Ferrari, Equipo Latinoamericano de Justicia y Género, Argentina
3. Marcela Gabioud, World Association for Christian Communication - Latin America
4. Rokeya Kabir, Nari Progati Sangha, Bangladesh
5. Raquel Romero, Fundacion Colectivo Cabildeo, Bolivia
6. Abida Pehlic, Novi Put, Bosnia and Herzegovina
7. Vilma Peña, Observatorio Centroamericano de Género y Comunicación, Costa Rica
8. Carlos Terán Puente, Centro Ecuatoriano De Promoción Y Acción De La Mujer, Ecuador
9. Sandra López Astudillo, Grupo de Apoyo al Movimiento de Mujeres del Azuay, Ecuador
10. Alisia Evans, FemLINK Pacific, Fiji
11. Sian Rolls, FemLINK Pacific, Fiji
12. Vincent Rajkumar, Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, India
13. Pat Phillips, WMW, Jamaica
14. Lucia Lagunes Huerta, Comunicación e Información de la Mujer (CIMAC), Mexico
15. Cirenia Celestino Ortega, Comunicación e Información de la Mujer (CIMAC), Mexico
16. Indu Tuladhar, Asmita Women’s Publishing House, Media and Resource Organisation, Nepal
17. Olayide Akanni, Journalists against AIDS, Nigeria

32
 18. Gbenga Osinaike, Journalists for Christ, Nigeria
19. Suheir Farraj, Women, Media and Development (TAM), Palestine
20. Alicia Noemí Stumpfs Vázquez, Kuña Roga, Paraguay
21. Amie Joof, Réseau Inter - Africain pour les Femmes, Médias, Genre et Développement
(FAMEDEV), Senegal
22. Jelena Visnjic, BeFem - Feminist cultural Centre, Serbia
23. Dafne Sabanes Plou, Association for Progressive Communications (APC), South Africa
24. Margaret Sentamu, Uganda Media Women’s Organization, Uganda
25. Pham Thi Minh Hang, Research centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development
(CGFED), Vietnam
26. Clare Paine, Christian Aid, United Kingdom
27. Jennifer Lee, Feminist Stories, USA
28. Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, femLINKPacific, Fiji
29. Shirley Struchen, World Association for Christian Communication - North America, USA
30. Glory Dharmaraj, Global Media Monitoring Project coordinator for North America region and for
the U.S.A., USA
31. Karri Whipple, World Association for Christian Communication - North America, USA
32. Esther Franke, New School, Germany/USA

Costa Rica Consultation (October 2017)

1. David Morales, WACC América Latina, Colombia

2. Raul Tacaj Xol Asociación Estoreña para el Desarrollo Integral (AEPDI), Guatemala
3. Samuel Macz Caal, Radio Nimlajacoc, Guatemala
4. Alma Montoya, Grupo Comunicarte, Colombia
5. Priscila Barredo, Observatorio Centroamericano de Género y Comunicación, Costa Rica
6. Liliana León, Asociación Voces Nuestras, Costa Rica
7. Elsa Chiquito, Radio Ixchel, Guatemala
8. Yesica Matias Manuel, Radio Xilotepek, Guatemala

33
9. Lorenzo Xajpot, Radio Sinakan, Guatemala
10. Moises Rioja, APG El Bananal, Argentina
11. Johannes Schwable, Comunicadores Populares por la Autonomía (COMPPA) México/Guatemala
12. Tania Ayma Calle, Centro de Educación y Comunicación para Comunidades y Pueblos Indígenas
(CECOPI), Bolivia
13. Cesar Bernardez, Organización Fraternal Negra Hondureña (OFRANEH), Honduras
14. Maria Amorim e Avelar, Associação Beneficence Casa Caiada de Paraiba, Brazil
15. Bladimir Avila Urbano, Centro de Culturas Indígenas del Perú (CHIRAPAQ), Peru
16. Ary Regis, Sosyete Animasyon Kominikasyon Sosyal (SAKS), Haití
17. Jose Luis Soto, Espacio de Comunicación Insular, Dominican Republic
18. Suleica Pineda, La Sandía Digital, México
19. Samanta Doudtchitzky, Asociación Crisol de Proyecto Sociales, Argentina
20. Victor Gómez, Colectivo Pro Derechos Humanos, Ecuador
21. Gissela Dávila, Asociación Latinoamericana de Educación Radiofónica (ALER), Ecuador
22. Graciela Navarro, Asociación Mundial de Radios Comunitarias (AMARC) Argentina, Argentina
23. Rosa Elena Vallejo, Centro Internacional de Estudios Superiores de Comunicación para América
Latina (CIESPAL), Ecuador
24. Leonardo Félix, Agencia Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Comunicación (ALC), Argentina
25. Joara Marchezini, Artigo 19, Brazil
26. Dennis Christian Larsen, UNICEF
27. Avexnim Cojti, Cultural Survival, Guatemala/ USA
28. Renato Joya, INTERCOM, Costa Rica
29. Luisa Ochoa, Profesora de la Escuela de Ciencias de la Comunicación Colectiva, Universidad de
Costa Rica, Costa Rica
30. Marvin Amador, Profesor de la Escuela de Ciencias de la Comunicación Colectiva, Universidad de
Costa Rica, Costa Rica

34
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