wfn.org | WACC Launches Communication Rights Web Portal

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

**WACC launches communication rights portal **

> Toronto, Canada, Monday 8 September 2008

<http://www.centreforcommunicationrights.org/

A web portal providing resources on communication rights has been
launched by WACC as the first step towards establishing a global
Centre for Communication Rights. The portal can be found at
www.centreforcommunicationrights.org
<http://www.centreforcommunicationrights.org/

WACC has taken this initiative in response to a growing demand for
materials and resources about communication rights, the
democratisation of communication, and their relationship to
development. It did so acknowledging the pioneering work on the right
to communicate that began in 1969 with Jean Dâ??Arcy and implemented
by the Right to Communicate Group led by L. S. Harms, Desmond Fisher
and others.

In the 1980s WACC supported moves for a New World Information and
Communication Order (NWICO) and the work of the individuals and
organisations that made up the Platform for Cooperation on
Communication and Democratisation. WACC later held the secretariat of
the Campaign for Communication Rights in the Information Society
(CRIS).

Communication rights go beyond mere freedom of opinion and
expression. They include such topics as democratic media governance,
media ownership and control, linguistic rights, the right to
information, education, privacy, peaceful assembly, and
self-determination. These are questions of inclusion and exclusion,
democratic responsibility and accountability. In short, they are
questions of human dignity.

For several years WACC has supported activities aimed at claiming and
using communication rights as integral to shaping societies that fully
respond to human needs. This was done in the belief that strengthening
communication rights creates an enabling environment that is crucial
to participatory citizenship and genuine social and economic
development.

It is planned that the Centre for Communication Rights - for which
WACC is currently seeking funding - will work on a global index of
communication rights, educational and training curricula, strategies
and toolkits for monitoring and advancing communication rights,
capacity-building, research, and advocacy.

Contact: Philip Lee, Deputy Director of Programmes, WACC:
PL@waccglobal.org <mailto:PL@waccglobal.org

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