[FoME] UNDP: Information and communication needs of indigenous peoples in Asia

[Christoph Dietz]

Indigenous voices in Asia-Pacific: identifying the information and
communication needs of indigenous peoples
Bangkog: UNDP, 2012, 64 p.
 
Download:
http://www.snap-undp.org/eLibrary/Publications/DG-2012-IndigenousVoices.pdf

 
Aus dem "Executive Summary": 
 
The current report presents the highlights of five country assessments
that were undertaken to identify the communication and information needs
of indigenous peoples. The starting point for this regional initiative
was that access to information and communication avenues have an
empowering element, and play a significant role in strengthening
democratic governance, making it more inclusive, responsive and
accountable.

Given that approximately 70 percent of the world’s 370 million
indigenous peoples live in Asia-Pacific, and that, to a large extent,
are often the most vulnerable groups, it was deemed relevant to focus on
their information and communication needs. Moreover, with the adoption
of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, it
became even more relevant to recognise the importance of access to
information, both indigenous and non-indigenous for the full realisation
of indigenous peoples’ rights.
 
This regional initiative, called the Indigenous People’s Initiative,
began in Borneo in December 2007. Five assessments followed (between
2009-2011), culminating in regional and national interventions to
increase the participation of indigenous peoples in decisions affecting
them. The initiative builds on an assessment approach developed by the
UNDP Oslo Governance Centre, while elaborating the importance of
communication for poverty reduction and democratic governance. The
assessments used a participatory and inclusive approach to produce
findings and recommendations, and strengthen the capacities of
researchers and participating organizations. The methodology was piloted
in Lao PDR and Nepal, and later updated to include indicators from the
Media Development Indicators devised by the International Programme for
the Development of Communication (IPDC) at the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). All findings
were validated at national consultation workshops. 
 
The assessments focused on a systematic analysis of major development
issues faced by indigenous peoples, including in terms of representation
in state agencies. They considered media and communication
landscapes–encompassing freedom of expression and information, the
safety of journalists, and community media, particularly radio–and how
different factors facilitate or hinder information and communication for
indigenous peoples, including the potential of new modes of digital
communication and information and communication technology (ICT). In
identifying the main challenges and opportunities for indigenous peoples
and their development, the assessments provided a basis for
recommendations on priority interventions for each participating country
and for a regional strategy.

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Christoph Dietz
CAMECO
Postfach 10 21 04 
D-52021 Aachen, Germany
Tel.: 0049 - 241 - 70 13 12 14
Fax: 0049 - 241 - 70 13 12 33
christoph.dietz at cameco.org 
http://www.cameco.org