December 9, 2013, Seoul. The 3rd AMARC Asia Pacific Regional Conference and Assembly of Community Radio Broadcasters has concluded with a call for promoting the diversity of voices and identities.
The conference has called upon governments of the Asia Pacific region to respect and protect people's right to information and communication and to introduce specific legislative provisions safeguarding the community radios.
While expressing condolences and solidarity to the victims and survivors of the recent natural disaster in the Philippines, the 3rd AMARC Asia Pacific conference has resolved to support relief activities through existing as well new emergency community radios. The conference has called for a greater role of community broadcasters for disaster risk reduction and risk management.
While releasing the AMARC Asia Pacific Seoul Declaration, the conference has highlighted a need for greater recognition of the important role of community radio in the area of peace building and reconciliation, climate change adaptation, promoting local food security.
The declaration has resolved to continue to oppose violence against journalists and media practitioners and to resist legislative measures that would dilute the right to free and open reporting on matters of community interest or concern.
The Seoul declaration has resolved to ensure the inclusion of the voices of all migrant, internally displaced peoples and refugee communities in our community radios and support them in the establishment, ownership and management of their own community radios.
The conference, held from 2-5 December 2013 in Seoul, South Korea has condemned the continuous, systemic and institutionalized discrimination based on sexual orientation, identities and ethnicity and has resolved to fight against discrimination.