Suman BasnetRegional Coordinator

AMARC Asia PacificKathmandu, Nepal

Approximately 5000 community radio and individual members in 113 countries;

Created in 1983 during the first international conference of community radios in Montreal;

Asia-Pacific regional office in Kathmandu & International Secretariat in Montreal;

Core purpose is to defend & promote of community broadcasting;

Women’s International Network (AMARC-WIN) is a sister movement to promote women’s role in community radios

http:/www.amarc.org

To express local issues and concerns in a culturally and socially relevant manner and in local languages;

To create an alternative to the state-owned and the private commercial media

To fill in the information gap by the absence of media

Photos of Radio CBS, Indonesia

Afghanistan Australia Bangladesh Cambodia East Timor Fiji and Pacific

Island Countries India Indonesia Japan South Korea Nepal New Zealand Philippines Thailand Community Song contest, Sheker radio,

Kyrgystan

“In my village vegetable farmers received enhanced bargaining power after our local community radio “Radio Palung” started to provide the latest vegetable rates from Kathmandu. Earlier we were exploited 'by middlemen who made good of the information gap. We also receive information about pesticides, farming seasons, etc. that are useful for farming.”

Harkha Bahadur Karki, Vegetable Farmer, Palung

“If we have our own radio, the issues that we talk about will reach a larger community of women. Radio will enhance the credibility of our messages by lending them the weight of the medium” - Bidakanne Sammamma, Pastapur.

“Community Radio Namma Dhwani gave us an identity of our own” - Budhikote Community

Suitcase Radio of femLINKPACIFIC Media Initiatives for Women

Installing antennae, North Sumatra Province,

Indonesia

Japanese women in the studioof FMYY, Kobe, Japan

Nepali porter and his radio Radio Sagarmatha, Kathmandu

The Self Employed Women’s Association, SEWA is a cooperative with a membership of over one million and

runs a community radio for its members in Gujarat, India

Radio is immensely popular everywhere

Khoun Radio Laos PDR

Kishim community radio, Afghanistan

Radio Most, Kyrgystan

Independent broadcasters between two guns

Lack of legislative recognition or unfriendly legislation

Lack of spectrum planning

Unclear ownership issues

Complicated licensing procedures

Threats by militant groups

Lack of code of conduct

Low capacity of operation and maintenance

By the people, for the people and of the people

Not for making profit

Local languages

Inclusive, democratic, and creative medium

Low cost

Promotes transparency

Promotes local culture

Functions as a development tool