Many Asia Pacific governments have failed to ensure access of indigenous peoples to media in general and indigenous community media in particular. The project seeks to clarify in selected countries and document best practices of indigenous community radio broadcasting legislation.

The Asia and the Pacific region is home to the largest number of Indigenous Peoples, more than 260 million people, or 70 percent of the total indigenous population in the world. Despite their numbers and relevance to food and nutrition security, Indigenous Peoples are among the most marginalized subgroups in the Asia-Pacific region. The lack of respect to their basic human rights, cultures, spirituality and traditions, and the encroachment on their traditional lands and natural resources increase their vulnerability by undermining livelihoods, shelters and identity.

AMARC Asia-Pacific firmly believes that indigenous community radios can play a vital role in the support of the promotion of Indigenous rights. AMARC is committed to resources at the disposal of its network in meeting this objective. Community radio offers the possibility to speak out, express disagreements and communicate priorities by the most marginalized, including Indigenous Peoples and communities. Article 16 of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples essentially states that: “Indigenous peoples have the right to establish their own media in their own languages and access all other non-Indigenous media without discrimination.”

AMARC-AP will conduct two activities: (1) a survey among its CR members in 15 Asia-Pacific countries, seeking to document actual access or property by Indigenous Peoples’ of CR, (2) a research (desk study, interviews, and a specific digital publication) that will document best policy and legislative practices in Asia Pacific countries.