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Media is Development: Afghanistan Media and Civil Society Forum March 28-29, 2007 - Intercontinental Hotel, Kabul Organizers: The Killid Group and IPS-Inter Press Service |
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Summary: The conference slogan, “Media is Development”, embodies the ultimate truth that there can be no democracy and participatory development unless the voices of all sectors, including beneficiaries, are reported objectively and accurately, and disseminated on time in all parts of the country. Free and accessible media is a key element in the chain linking policy with the people -- the ultimate beneficiaries of development. The main objectives of the Afghanistan Media and Civil Society Forum is to reflect on the crucial role played by the media and civil society in the country's efforts to transform from a war-torn country towards the building of a peaceful democracy and to assess the roles these two sectors can play to prevent a regression to conflict. The possibility of Afghanistan regressing is real and could be accentuated in the absence of Afghan-led confidence-building efforts facilitated by the media and civil society. At present public opinion on the Afghan transition is largely being shaped by powerful foreign mass media which is unable to adequately reflect ground realties. Afghanistan’s complexities, which exist in different localized contexts, requires the development of local content to be relevant and accessible. Moreover diverse ideas, opinions, views and concerns about the country, its past, present and future exist. The media uniquely provides the forum for debate, for the exchange of information and experience and can contribute to the forging of a public consensus on the way ahead, but only if it is able to operate free from fear and political harassment and, in the current absence of donor funding and sufficient advertising revenue, is financially supported in the continuing transition. The Forum is expected to contribute to the process because it would allow media, civil society, government and donor representatives to discuss each other's role in the process of transforming Afghanistan to a peaceful democracy, which will be disseminated to the general public by the mass media. |