The 1992 Chapultepec peace agreements ushered in a process of national reconciliation in El Salvador. Mediated by the United Nations, they provided the framework for an extensive military peace-keeping and peace-building operation. No specific provisions were contained in the agreements for a national culture of peace project. Yet the government, in collaboration with UNESCO, decided on a culture of peace programme and one of its elements was a radio project entitled "Support to Radio Services in Non-formal Education, Training and Information on Women." It was to constitute a common goal for the country, of benefit to all parties. Its management, content and direction were to be a peace-building process, in themselves, bringing hostile factions together.
The radio project's content is directed at raising awareness of poor women's rights and creating the social and educational environment necessary for the exercise of those rights. The project's major activity is the production of daily radio broadcasts and non-formal education campaigns. There are now 45 stations broadcasting daily. Some are national but most are regional or local. In addition to broadcasting into homes, the programmes are broadcast by loudspeakers at market places, where the vendors and buyers are mostly women. The span of transmission varies from 5 am to 8 pm to catch women, such as factory workers, who work night hours. Each broadcast is composed of a number of segments dealing with various subjects such as legal rights of women, violence in couples, sharing of domestic work and women's values. As many of the issues tackled are harsh and practical, light and entertaining flashes with music intersperse the programmes.
The most striking element of the project is the way radio has served as a common interest to bring feuding parties together. Prior to the implementation of the project, people often expressed their reticence and hestitation about working with others. Participants would ask questions such as "who would own the project or the equipment ?" This environment of mistrust could only really be overcome once outputs and objectives were clear. Once a common goal was set, collaborative work became all the easier. A Technical Committee was created to precisely co-ordinate and structure this process of consensus and concertation. It was composed of a representative of women's NGOs, a member of the community involved in radio broadcasting, a representative from UNESCO and Government. The Committee has the task of designing work plans and supporting technical issues and decision-making. It maintains a surveillance and monitoring function and seeks to ensure the continued philosophy of dialogue and communication between all participants. For example, each content module of the radio programme has to be approved by the Committee prior to broadcast. The project was monitored in 1996 according to five key aspects: leadership, clarity, level of interest, usefulness and duration. The radio shows as well as teh educational campaigns are permanently being validated, monitored and evaluated. The process of consensus is known to the populations who listen to the radio broadcasts and it helps maintain their trust in the radio and its vocation of reconcilement.
Training workshops reinforce the emphasis on dialogue and make sure the radio and campaigns keep up their relevance and quality level. The community correspondents feed the radio shows with news from all over the country, thus guaranteeing that it has quality information, of interest and reality to the listening audience. There are a total of 64 correspondents in the country. During workshops, they discuss the process of information carried in the mass media and how their role in the handling of women's issues can affect women. It is their duty to verify that radio programmes are a source of agreement in the provinces and that topics common to all Salvadorians are being discussed. In the communities themselves, campaign promoters, women and men throughout the country, raise awareness through meetings and rallies. Given the lack of opportunities in many communities, this is a chance for many people to take part in a national programme that directly addresses their needs, allows them to play a crucial role in the peace process and leads to an enhanced self concept. Campaign promoters, in turn, train organisations working in the municipalities, communities and rural areas in the importance of the themes addressed in the radio shows.
Radio shows are produced by a technical team composed of professionals. Each show is the fruit of much discussion and debate. Scripts are prepared for each segment which is then recorded using radio formats such as dramas, interviews, testimonies and articles. Production entails constant bibliographical research, visits to the field and interviews (contacts with community correspondents and campaign promoters). Radio programmes are given to community radios at no charge and they are free to accompany them with advertising if they so wish. The project has, in fact, improved the image of the radio stations recovering from factional strife. Thanks to the project they are all seen as partners with the government in addressing national concerns.
The production team has had to show considerable maturity to come to terms with problems, despite disagreement, and reach a consensus on radio and campaign content. Often people would disagree as to the importance of one theme over another but maintaining the project in line with the peace-building process has meant opinions and stances have grown less virulent and hostile. Exchange and negotiation have become aspects of work, and people have been transformed through their own actions and their social exchange.
Contact information:
Ms. Mirta Lourenço
Culture of Peace Programme
UNESCO
Tel: 33 1 45 68 09 28
Fax: 33 1 45 68 55 57