Abstract
This chapter explores the intersections between the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030) and communication and information issues. Taking a communication rights-based approach that emphasizes the need to address communication and information poverty in order to achieve sustainable development, the authors examine the four goals (5, 9, 16, and 17) where communication and information issues feature most prominently and make the case for the inclusion of an 18th goal: Communication for All, in order to address a range of communication and information deficits, such as digital exclusion and undemocratic media landscapes, that impede meaningful and transformational sustainable development.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the teamwork that led to the crafting of this chapter, with valuable inputs from a number of sources including present and former colleagues, researchers, and WACC project partners.
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Notes
- 1.
This chapter is the result of a process that involved face-to-face and online consultations with some 90 grassroots communication activists around the world. Most of these activists are representatives of civil society organizations working on communication rights issues around the world with the technical and financial support of WACC. For the full list of activists, see Annex. WACC staff carried out focus groups, structured interviews, and informal conversations with these activists during in-person events in Hong Kong, New York, and San Jose, Costa Rica, as well as online. These findings were subsequently presented to different academic fora, including the 2018 IAMCR conference, in order to solicit feedback.
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Annex: List of Activists Who Participated in the Drafting of These Recommendations
Annex: List of Activists Who Participated in the Drafting of These Recommendations
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1.
Samuel Meshack, WACC Asia, India
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2.
Gitiara Nasreen, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
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3.
Soonim Lee, Olive Tree Productions, South Korea
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4.
Niel Lopez, Resource Center for People’s Advocacies in Southern Mindanao, Philippines
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5.
Jimmy Okello, Community Media Network Uganda, Uganda
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6.
Adeline Nsimire, Sauti ya Mwanamke Kijijini, Democratic Republic of Congo
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7.
Biak Hnin, Global Chin Christian Fellowship, Myanmar
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8.
Jose Enrique Africa, IBON Foundation, Philippines
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9.
Seck Medoune, Réseau Inter-Africain pour les Femmes, Médias, Genre et Développement, Sénégal
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10.
Suman Basnet, AMARC Asia Pacific, Nepal
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11.
Ashek Elahi, People’s Research on Grassroots Ownership & Traditional Initiative, Bangladesh
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12.
Golam Mourtoza, Centre for Communication and Development, Bangladesh
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13.
Athanase Kabore, Farm Radio International, Burkina Faso
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14.
Ruth Omukhango, African Woman and Child Features Service, Kenya
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15.
Chirstopher Pasion, Pinoy Media Center, Philippines
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16.
Margaret Bukirwa, Uganda Media Women’s Association, Uganda
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17.
Syed Tarikul Islam, Alliance for Cooperation and Legal Aid Bangladesh, Bangladesh
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18.
Sawssen Gharbi, Association Rayhana de femme de Jendouba, Tunisia
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19.
Vincent Rajkumar, Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, India
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20.
Frank Jabson, Creative Centre for Communication and Development, Zimbabwe
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21.
Ramon Boultron, Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, Hong Kong
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22.
Rey Asis, Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, Hong Kong
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23.
Ramakrishnan Nagarajan, Ideosync Media Combine, India
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24.
Caesar Jonah David, National Council of Churches in India, India
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25.
Gerifel Cerillo, Karapatan Alliance Philippines, Philippines
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26.
Benjamin Alforque, Communication Foundation for Asia, Philippines
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27.
Kudzai Kwangwari, Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations, Zimbabwe
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28.
Michael Beltran, Kalipunan Ng Damayang Mahihirap, Philippines
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29.
Ambrose Zwane, Swaziland Community Multimedia Network, Swaziland
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30.
Rhea Padilla, Altermidya—People’s Alternative Media Network, Philippines
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31.
Sandra Chaher, Asociación Civil Comunicación para la Igualdad, Argentina
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32.
Nadia Ferrari, Equipo Latinoamericano de Justicia y Género, Argentina
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33.
Marcela Gabioud, World Association for Christian Communication—Latin America
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34.
Rokeya Kabir, Nari Progati Sangha, Bangladesh
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35.
Raquel Romero, Fundacion Colectivo Cabildeo, Bolivia
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36.
Abida Pehlic, Novi Put, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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37.
Vilma Peña, Observatorio Centroamericano de Género y Comunicación, Costa Rica
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38.
Carlos Terán Puente, Centro Ecuatoriano de Promoción y Acción de la Mujer, Ecuador
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39.
Sandra López Astudillo, Grupo de Apoyo al Movimiento de Mujeres del Azuay, Ecuador
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40.
Alisia Evans, FemLINK Pacific, Fiji
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41.
Sian Rolls, FemLINK Pacific, Fiji
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42.
[SEE 19 ABOVE]
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43.
Pat Phillips, WMW, Jamaica
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44.
Lucia Lagunes Huerta, Comunicación e Información de la Mujer (CIMAC), Mexico
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45.
Cirenia Celestino Ortega, Comunicación e Información de la Mujer (CIMAC), Mexico
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46.
Indu Tuladhar, Asmita Women’s Publishing House, Media and Resource Organisation, Nepal
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47.
Olayide Akanni, Journalists against AIDS, Nigeria
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48.
Gbenga Osinaike, Journalists for Christ, Nigeria
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49.
Suheir Farraj, Women, Media and Development (TAM), Palestine
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50.
Alicia Noemí Stumpfs Vázquez, Kuña Roga, Paraguay
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51.
Amie Joof, Réseau Inter-Africain pour les Femmes, Médias, Genre et Développement (FAMEDEV), Senegal
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52.
Jelena Visnjic, BeFem—Feminist cultural Centre, Serbia
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53.
Dafne Sabanes Plou, Association for Progressive Communications (APC), South Africa
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54.
Margaret Sentamu, Uganda Media Women’s Organization, Uganda
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55.
Pham Thi Minh Hang, Research centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development (CGFED), Vietnam
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56.
Clare Paine, Christian Aid, United Kingdom
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57.
Jennifer Lee, Feminist Stories, USA
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58.
Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, femLINKPacific, Fiji
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59.
Shirley Struchen, World Association for Christian Communication—North America, USA
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60.
Glory Dharmaraj, Global Media Monitoring Project coordinator for North America region, USA
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61.
Karri Whipple, World Association for Christian Communication—North America, USA
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62.
Esther Franke, New School, Germany/USA
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63.
David Morales, WACC América Latina, Colombia
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64.
Raul Tacaj Xol Asociación Estoreña para el Desarrollo Integral (AEPDI), Guatemala
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65.
Samuel Macz Caal, Radio Nimlajacoc, Guatemala
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66.
Alma Montoya, Grupo Comunicarte, Colombia
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67.
Priscila Barredo, Observatorio Centroamericano de Género y Comunicación, Costa Rica
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68.
Liliana León, Asociación Voces Nuestras, Costa Rica
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69.
Elsa Chiquito, Radio Ixchel, Guatemala
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70.
Yesica Matias Manuel, Radio Xilotepek, Guatemala
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71.
Lorenzo Xajpot, Radio Sinakan, Guatemala
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72.
Moises Rioja, APG El Bananal, Argentina
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73.
Johannes Schwable, Comunicadores Populares por la Autonomía (COMPPA) México/Guatemala
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74.
Tania Ayma Calle, Centro de Educación y Comunicación para Comunidades y Pueblos Indígenas (CECOPI), Bolivia
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75.
Cesar Bernardez, Organización Fraternal Negra Hondureña (OFRANEH), Honduras
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76.
Maria Amorim e Avelar, Associação Beneficence Casa Caiada de Paraiba, Brazil
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77.
Bladimir Avila Urbano, Centro de Culturas Indígenas del Perú (CHIRAPAQ), Peru
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78.
Ary Regis, Sosyete Animasyon Kominikasyon Sosyal (SAKS), HaitI
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79.
Jose Luis Soto, Espacio de Comunicación Insular, Dominican Republic
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80.
Suleica Pineda, La Sandía Digital, México
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81.
Samanta Doudtchitzky, Asociación Crisol de Proyecto Sociales, Argentina
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82.
Victor Gómez, Colectivo Pro Derechos Humanos, Ecuador
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83.
Gissela Dávila, Asociación Latinoamericana de Educación Radiofónica (ALER), Ecuador
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84.
Graciela Navarro, Asociación Mundial de Radios Comunitarias (AMARC) Argentina, Argentina
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85.
Rosa Elena Vallejo, Centro Internacional de Estudios Superiores de Comunicación para América Latina (CIESPAL), Ecuador
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86.
Leonardo Félix, Agencia Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Comunicación (ALC), Argentina
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87.
Joara Marchezini, Artigo 19, Brazil
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88.
Dennis Christian Larsen, UNICEF
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89.
Avexnim Cojti, Cultural Survival, Guatemala/USA
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90.
Renato Joya, INTERCOM, Costa Rica
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91.
Luisa Ochoa, Profesora de la Escuela de Ciencias de la Comunicación Colectiva, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica
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92.
Marvin Amador, Profesor de la Escuela de Ciencias de la Comunicación Colectiva, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica
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Vargas, L., Lee, P. (2023). Communication and Information Poverty in the Context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Case for SDG 18—Communication for All. In: Servaes, J., Yusha'u, M.J. (eds) SDG18 Communication for All, Volume 1. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19142-8_2
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