Almaty Declaration (1992)

The International Program for the Development of Communication (IPDC) was adopted in 1980 at the XXI session of the General Conference of UNESCO based on the recommendations of an international commission led by Sean McBride. The international program was aimed at developing communication tools in developing countries and providing them with specific assistance in this area. In order to implement its strategy in the new historical conditions, UNESCO, together with the UN Department of Public Information and international journalistic organizations, has launched international forums for media representatives in different regions of the world:

• May 1991 - Windhoek (   Namibia ) - in African countries ^[1] ;
• October 1992 - Alma-Ata (   Kazakhstan ) - in the countries of Asia and the Pacific;
• May 1994 - Santiago (   Chile ) - in the countries of South America;
• January 1996 - Sana'a (   Yemen ) - in the countries of the Middle East.
• September 1997 - Sofia (   Bulgaria ) - in European countries ^[2] .

In Alma-Ata, the Workshop on promoting the development of independent and pluralistic media in Asia, which adopted the Alma-Ata Declaration, was organized by Martin Hadlow, the first director of the UNESCO Almaty Office. ^{[3] The} Alma-Ata Declaration was approved at the XXVIII session of the General Conference of UNESCO (1995), which is reflected in subsequent declarations.

The declaration contains suggestions for improving the quality of the media:

• Legislation - replacing outdated media laws in accordance with new realities;
• Training - the creation of a high-quality training system;
• Free flow of information - the creation of centers for access to international news exchange;
• Safety of journalists - protect journalists;
• Non-governmental broadcasting - the development of mechanisms for the functioning of independent media;
• Professional associations - assistance in the creation of trade unions;
• Special economic issues - the development of mechanisms for attracting preferential funds for independent media.

Since 2002, the Eurasian Media Forum has been held in Alma-Ata , the purpose of which is to create an atmosphere of trust between countries and continents through the interaction of the media. The forum’s materials repeatedly refer to the 1992 Almaty Declaration by both the organizers ^[4] and Koichiro Matsuura - UNESCO Director- General . ^[5]

In September 2012, the international conference "Alma-Ata + 20" dedicated to the anniversary of the declaration was held in Alma-Ata. More than a hundred conference participants gathered to discuss issues of legislation and media pluralism and changes in society that have passed since the declaration was created. The issues of equal opportunities for men and women in the media, institutional support and networking, and increasing the potential of journalism education and media professionals were also addressed. ^[6]

According to Rafis Abazov (professor of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and Columbia University ), the declaration had a significant impact on the development of the media in the Republic of Kazakhstan and on the changes that have occurred in the media policy and in the interaction between state-owned media and government agencies. Changes in the technological aspect of the work of the media were also caused by the work of the Workshop in terms of transferring experience. ^[7]

• The text of the declaration on the UNESCO website (English, French)
• The text of the declaration on the website of the UNESCO Office in Alma-Ata (Russian)
• Declaration text