The right to inform and be informed

Forum Social Mondial 2011 – Dakar (Sénégal)

Du 6 au 11 Février

 

Assembly of Convergence for Action

10 Février

 

We, actors in the field of alternative information as well as citizen activists who use communication as a tool for social transformation: Note that, in a global context:

  • information is held in a stranglehold by political, economic and industrial forces and is manipulated by the governments and States.
  • freedom of expression is being denied, thwarted or repressed.
  • there is little or no guarantee for an unfettered access to information for all citizens.
  • a violent repression is unleashed upon citizens and actors in the field of information.
  • information is being commodified and standardized.
  • there is an increasing distrust by public opinion regarding information conveyed by the mainstream media.

 

We also note, particularly in Africa:

  • an almost total absence of laws favouring citizens’ access to information;
  • freedom of expression and freedom of the press being undermined by repressive laws;
  • hindrances and restrictions, if not outright censorship, placed upon communities who wish to establish community media.

At the same time, we see new perspectives opening up, in the face of this disturbing situation:

  • a greater awareness and ability by citizens to participate in the production and circulation of information in order to promote social justice;
  • the emergence of alternative media and the stepping unto the stage of citizens who contribute to social and political change, as evidenced by recent events in Tunisia and Egypt.

We declare that the right to communicate is a fundamental right and a common good of humanity.

We commit ourselves to:

  • defend, support and promote all initiatives that ensure and extend the right to communication and information as a fundamental human right;
  • building advocacy for a legislative and regulatory framework for public, alternative and community media, including ensuring among others a better right to airwave-access and broadcasting options;
  • recognize and protect the actors and activists involved in information and communication around the world;
  • create and strengthen synergies between all actors and activists working towards social transformation;
  • promote accessibility and popular ownership/mastery of media and information/communication technology by all citizens, without restriction of gender, class or origin;
  • promote mechanisms for ongoing communication between the various actors, participants and organizers of social forums, including the "extended" Social Forum as well as the various experiences of shared communication.
  • support the development and strengthening of community and alternative media;
  • combat censorship and guarantee freedom of expression on the Internet;
  • work towards the elaboration of a model that ensures the viability, sustainability and independence of the alternative media;
  • give a central place to issues of communication rights in the thematic spaces of social forums.

 

Action Plan:

  1. Center our information campaigns and awareness-raising activities on key issues that are on the international agenda (Rio+20, G8, G20, Palestine Forum, Durban, etc.).
  2. Organize a World Forum of Free and Alternative Media in 2012, as part of the WSF process.

As actors of communication, we clearly state our support for the Tunisian and Egyptian peoples, we call on their governments to lift censorship and to stop the repression against all citizens and actors in the field of information.

We also call on all actors of social change and to unite our forces in the struggle for the right to information and communication, without which no change is possible.

Participating organizations:

Abong (Brasilian association of NGOs) - Brasil

Action Jeunesse - Morrocco

African Klomeo renaissance - Nigeria

AK-Project France-Sénégal

Alai - Agência Latinoamericana de Información - Ecuador

Alba TV Venezuela

Alternatives Canadá

Amarc World association of community radios

Aphad - Senegal

Arcoiris TV - Italy

Babels

Berlin Carré - Germany

Caritas - France

CIC Bata - Spain

Caritas (France)

CIC Bata (Espagne)

Cdtm72 (France)

Cedidelp (France)v

Ciranda International - Shared Communication

International Commons strategies group - Germany

Citim (France)

Communautique - Canada

Editions Charles Léopold Mayer - France

E-Joussour - Morrocco

Federacion de sindicatos de periodistas - Spain

FocusPuller - Italy

Forum Alternatives Morrocco - FMAS

Fundacion Quepo - Spain

Giaba - Guinée Bissau

Guinée Culture - Guinea

HEKS - Senegal

 

Imersao Latina - Brazil

Intervozes - Brazil

IES News Service - Palestine

IPS (Inter Press Service)

KebethCache women resource center - Nigeria

Maison des citoyens du monde (France)

Maison des droits de l’homme (France)

Maison du Monde d’Evry (France)

May first / People link - USA

Mission for Youth - Uganda

NIGD

Pambazuka (Afrique)

Queens Magazine - Nigeria

Revista Forum - Brasil

Ritimo - France

Rural Health women Day - Nigeria

Saharareporters.com - Nigeria

Social Watch - Italy

Solafrika

Soylocoporti - Brasil

Support Initiative For sustainable development - Nigeria

Survie - France

TIE - Brasil

TV Star - Senegal

UnisCité - France

UPO - Spain

Vecam - France

WarriorsSelf-Help group - Kenya

WSFTV

 

Translated from French by Grégoire Seither / Babels