WUNRN
UN Statement on World Press Freedom
Day:
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Fiji & Pacific's First Women-Led Local Community Radio
Success Communicating Women's Issues & Rights, Peace
May 3, 2011
Suva, Fiji Islands
As FemLINKpacific convenes its 2nd
Community Radio Roundtable on May 5th 2011, the organisation will
celebrate the 7th anniversary for Communicating a Culture of Peace, Security
and Human Rights, which was conceived at the women's Peace Vigil convened from
May to September 2000.
According to femLINKPACIFIC’s Executive Director,
Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, 89.2fm is more than just a "suitcase radio
station" more importantly it is a vehicle to for women’s communication
rights and a platform for Peace, it has been an opportunity to promote the
potential that exists within women leaders in local communities to identify
critical development priorities as well and advise development programmes:
“Community Media is an essential part of peacebuilding
as we have demonstrated over the past years of operation, building on the
aspirations and beliefs shared during the Blue Ribbon Vigil. These include
commitments to the rule of law, democracy and a Constitution which enshrines
our rights as citizens. It has enabled women at their community level to raise
awareness about their desires for our country while demonstrating the values of
the freedom of expression and free speech.”
The Peace Vigil, she added, had demonstrated the need
to ensure women's visibility and equal participation in decision making
processes, which gave rise to FemLINKPacific's work in advancing implementation
of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Women, Peace and Security) with
partners in Bougainville, Solomons Islands and Tonga.
Bhagwan-Rolls highlighted that an independent and free
media inclusive of community media, is
critical for achieving sustainable and gender-inclusive peace and credible
governance, especially in post conflict countries:
“An
independent and free media can assist in informing, motivating and mobilizing
communities emerging from conflict, and provides an important channel of
increasing public participation in Peacebuilding by making the process
inclusive for all.”
Community
Radio, she stressed is a critical component of the media sector, however, she
added that working within the boundaries of the Public Emergency Decree does
not augur well even to communicate a culture of peace: "This does limit
the process of building women's capacity to address issues of power structures,
because there is a legacy of fear, even when addressing one's desire for peace
and security."
The Early Days:
In 2004, femLINKpacific established the Pacific
region's first women-led mobile community radio station – FemTALK 89.2FM.
Unlike public radio, its mission was to challenge the status quo of existing
decision making structures in Fiji by enabling women, especially those from the
rural areas and the poor to speak openly as participating agents discussing
common matters:
"What is unique about community radio is that
women and young women, are active participants in producing radio programmes
reflecting their social, economic and political. That will help bring about
development from a gendered perspective," said Bhagwan Rolls.
The radio programmes are complimented by publications such as The Community Radio Times and FemTALK 1325, as well as podcasts and a range of policy initiatives.
FemTALK 89.2FM in the last seven years has reached
women in rural centres from Rakiraki to Ba, Lautoka, Nadi, Navua, Nausori as
well as Labasa.
Empowering
"Generation Next"
89.2FM is more than just a space on the airwaves. It
remains an empowerment tool for women, especially in the rural communities of
Fiji where FemLINKPacific has touched the lives of many women including older
women, young women and women with disabilities.
Building on the involvement of a small group of
student volunteers from St Joseph's Secondary School in 2004, the Generation
Next project has now trained more than 50 young women to produce and broadcast
content while also serving as a bridge between rural women and the capital
city. Today Generation Next includes community radio volunteers in Labasa,
Nadi, Ba and Suva.
"This
is what community radio is about. It is about amplifying women’s voices, but
more importantly, FemTALK 89.2FM has proven that community radio is able to
involve women in recognition that they are valuable sources of information and
decision makers for their community and their country."
Networking:
Over the past seven years, the community radio station
has enabled local women's peace networks to be share knowledge and improve
understanding of a range of Peace and Development priorities.
The pre broadcast consultations and broadcasts link
women with local and national policy makers.
Local conveners and focal points are the contact
points for women who participate in monthly network meetings, organising radio
programmes and staging rural broadcasts are also expanding their knowledge and
roles as communicators and Peace advocates.
Sharing Knowledge:
A community radio roundtable will take place at
FemLINKPacific's Community Media Centre, Level 2, Bayly Trust Building from
10am to 1pm and will include sharing ideas to support gender equality in
decision making from local to national level including an on air broadcast with
our Generation Next young women producers and broadcasters.
For more information please contact:
Sharon Bhagwan Rolls (+6799244871/3310303)