As part of its work on communication for social change,  since 2007 WACC has supported some 79 projects in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America under its programme "Building and Recognising Communication Rights". The concept of communication rights is a new one and partners and funders frequently ask what they are.

For a long time now many groups and organisations, as well as individuals, have been working on the idea that communication rights are fundamental to the democratisation of society since they "strengthen the capacity of people and communities to use communication and media to pursue their goals in the economic, political, social and cultural spheres. They support key human rights that collectively enhance people’s capacity to communicate in their own general interest and for the common good" (No-Nonsense guide to communication rights ).

Under its programme Building and Recognising Communication Rights WACC has supported a number of communication projects for indigenous communities in Asia and Latin America. The programme is rooted in the principle that communication is an essential human need and a basic human right. This is essential if society is to change so that it fully responds to the needs of every sector and, in particular, those who have faced long lasting social and economic marginalisation. Recognising the historical communication deficit faced by indigenous communities across the world in the last ten years, WACC has provided support for indigenous groups in Argentina, Guatemala, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Chile, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Philippines and Peru.

En los últimos años se han producido intensos debates en diversos países del continente por nuevas ormativas en materia de radiodifusión, insertos en un contexto de convergencia tecnológica y digitalización,  de una tendencia preocupante hacia la concentración de medios de comunicación. Desde l Programa de Legislaciones y derecho a la comunicación de AMARC ALC, consideramos que la perspectiva
de derechos humanos es central para formular y guiar las reformas y discusiones normativas, a que ofrece un horizonte alternativo a las perspectivas de carácter puramente técnico o económico.

This manual was developed in the context of a communication rights project implemented by the Creative Centre for Communication and Development (CCCD), Zimbabwe, with support from the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) under its programme 'Recognizing and building on communication rights'. It is intended for trainers who want to implement a communication rights programme in
an environment where communication rights are not recognised, appreciated and upheld. The manual contains basic information about communication as a way of stimulating discussion on the importance of recognising and promoting communication rights in Zimbabwe.

Manual PDF