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PLATFORM for COOPERATION on COMMUNICATION and DEMOCRATISATION.=20

At a meeting held in London from October 31st to November 1st, a group of
NGOs involved in media and communication agreed on a common platform to
cooperate together on issues of mutual concern.=20

The meeting, which was organised and hosted by WACC with the MacBride Round
Table, was a small, informal, gathering to explore, among a manageable
group, the possibilities for and practicalities of cooperation. Groups
represented were: AMARC, APC, Article 19, Catholic Media Council, PANOS
London, People=92s Communication Charter, Communication for Social Change
(KUB), International Women=92s Tribune Centre, MacBride Round Table,
UNDA/OSIC, Vid=E9azimut, WACC, Worldview International, and Zebra.

The group agreed, as follows, the following platform as the basis for common
action:=20

_________

PLATFORM for COOPERATION on COMMUNICATION and DEMOCRATISATION=20

"Representatives of International NGOs concerned met in London, 31st October
to 1st November, and agreed a common strategy on issues relating to
communication and democratisation. =20

a) On the contribution of communication to the democratisation of society,
they agreed to work for:=20

The Right to Communication to be recognised and guaranteed as fundamental to
securing Human Rights founded on principles of genuine participation, social
justice, plurality and diversity and which reflect gender, cultural and
regional perspectives.

b) On the democratisation of communication structures, institutions and
processes, they emphasised:

The need to defend and deepen an open public space for debate and actions
that build critical understanding of the ethics of communication, democratic
policy development, and equitable and effective access."

_____________

The NGOs developed a set of immediate and medium term activities.  A major
goal is to jointly organise an event during 1998, the 50th Anniversary of
the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to promote the
right to communicate.  The Platform also offers an umbrella under which all
groups will promote and coordinate their own events. Other initiatives, each
involving collaboration of several NGOs, include:=20

=B7 Developing a Lobby Strategy for Media NGOs;=20
=B7 A booklet on forms of redress to International law in media and
communication;=20
=B7 A Website and electronic conference;
=B7 The creation of a Research Register;
=B7 A monitoring system of governments=92 implementation of international
agreements relating to media;=20
=B7 The opening of informal relations with the Development Sector of the ITU
(in response to an offer from the Director). =20

Position papers, to explore more deeply how the group might cooperate, were
agreed on: The Right to communicate, Universal Service and Human Rights; Key
issues in technology systems and standards, and impact on alternative
communication; The scope and need for research collaboration; The overall
relationship between NGOs and the ITU; International Legislation and
communication policies.=20


The Platform is open to NGOs that subscribe to its message, and are willing
to participate in any area of common concern.  The Network Facilitator for
the first year will be based in the WACC offices in London.  Further
meetings are planned, possibly to coincide with the MacBride Round Table
during 1997 and the AMARC Congress in December 1997.=20

For further information contact: Platform for Cooperation, WACC, 357
Kennington Lane, London SE115qy, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 171 582 9139; Fax:
+44 171 735 0340; e-mail wacc@gn.apc.org

Sean O Siochru          tel: +353 1 4730599 office
NEXUS Research Coop.    fax: +353 1 2821003 home office=20
14 Eaton Brae           fax: +353 1 4730597 office
Shankill                        fax: +353 1 2720034 home office
Co. Dublin              e-mail: sean@nexus.ie
Ireland         =09