The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (French: Association Mondiale Des Radiodiffuseurs Communautaires, AMARC) is the international umbrella organization of community radio broadcasters founded in 1983, with nearly 3,000 members in 110 countries.

AMARC's mission is to support and contribute to the development of community and participatory radio along the principals of solidarity and international cooperation.

AMARC's Declaration of Principles states, among other things, that members of AMARC:

• Contribute to the expression of different social, political and cultural movements, and to the promotion of all initiatives supporting peace, friendship among peoples.
• Recognize the fundamental and specific role of women in establishing new communication practices.
• Express through their programming:

the sovereignty and independence of all peoples;

solidarity and non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries;

international cooperation based on the creation of permanent and widespread ties based on equality, reciprocity, and mutual respect;

non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual preference or religion; and

respect for the cultural identity of peoples.

AMARC is a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), a global network of non-governmental organisations that monitors free expression violations worldwide and defends journalists, writers, Internet users and others who are persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

It is also involved in the Tunisia Monitoring Group, a coalition of 16 free expression groups that campaigns to end human rights violations in Tunisia.

Members of AMARC gather every 3-4 years for AMARC's general assemblies. At the November 2006 assembly in Amman, Jordan, members elected a new international board of directors and endorsed a strategic plan for the next 4 years. The next general assembly will be held in 2010 at a yet to be determined location.

[edit] See also

• Alternative media
• Community radio

[edit] External links

• AMARC's website
• AMARC's Wiki
• IFEX

This journalism-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

This article related to radio communications is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e