WACC Congress 2008

Women

Your support will go a long way towards giving 'voice' to people from the grassroots. A key component of WACC's global strategy is to explore and debate current international communication issues of concern to global and local development. WACC's mission is to promote communication for social change based on the belief that communication is a basic human right that defines people's common humanity.

WACC's priority groups (women, youth, indigenous people, and people living with disabilities and HIV/AIDS) advance peace initiatives at all levels of civil society. Thus, WACC wishes to ensure that communicators from these priority groups are able to attend Congress 2008, which offers them a platform to share their vision of conditions that lead to sustainable peace in their communities. Donate now and help send participants from one of the following priority groups to Congress 2008.

The following are examples of priority groups working at the grassroots level. Efforts like these will be strengthened with your contribution to support their participation at Congress 2008.

To support a particular priority group(s) please check the boxes below*

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HIV and AIDS

Indigenous People

Women

Gender justice for all

Communication is complementary to the peace. Without communication, peace cannot be promoted.

- Sangeeta Lama
Working Women Journalists

Sangeeta Lama is a freelance journalist and media consultant. She is the chair of a Nepali women journalists’ organization named ‘Working Women Journalists’ (WWJ) WWJ advocates rights of women journalists such as their participation in media, their involvement in the decision making levels of the media houses and media organizations.

Sangeeta worked for the magazine “Hakahaki” published by Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) supported by WACC. The magazine published information related to environment and natural resources and their relation to women, indigenous people and marginalized groups.

The theme of Congress 2008 is significant to local communities in Nepal most affected by the armed conflict which carried on for 10 years. About 15,000 people were killed and some 2,000 people are still “missing”. Despite a comprehensive peace agreement local communities are still facing different types of violence and security threats.

During the 10 years of armed conflict, media and communication played a significant role in informing and educating people regarding the conflict and peace related issues.

The Congress theme is also particularly significant to women because they are still treated as second class citizens. “In Nepal all the political parties, cabinet, public administration, judiciary, media, police, army and professions are controlled by men. The major decision making positions of all political parties, government offices and all professions are held by men.” The media can help change this imbalance.

Today we have about 10 big daily newspapers, more than 100 community radios all over the country and about half a dozen television channels, but we still have to go to a long way in terms of participation of women and marginalized groups and getting their concerns into the media. This is why an event like Congress 2008 is so important.

People with Disability

Youth

World Association for Christian Communication
308 Main Street Toronto, ON M4C 4X7 Canada	Telephone +1 416-691-1999 Fax +1 416-691-1997 congress@waccglobal.org
The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) is a UK Registered Charity (number 296073) and a Company registered in England and Wales (number 2082273) with its Registered Office at 36 Causton Street, London SW1P4ST. It is incorporated in Canada as a not-for-profit ogranisation with its head office at 308 Main Street, Toronto ON, M4C 4X7.