The station will be joining the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the regional office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for the “Stand Up for Someone’s Rights!” campaign. The campaign was launched in the form of a competition for community radio stations on Monday, 16 January 2017.

Community radio plays an important role

According to the SAHRC, being based within communities, local community radio stations make a positive contribution to the lives of ordinary people and they (SAHRC) want to recognize this positive contribution at a community level and give local radio stations the opportunity to further extend and strengthen their impact.

Through this competition, which is set to run until 17 February this year, community radio stations are invited to:

•         Stand up for someone’s rights.

•         Enter a competition and win great prizes.

•         Make a positive difference in the lives of the communities.

•         Help people make their rights work for them.

Radio stations entering the competition are required to come up with fresh and innovative approaches to raise human rights awareness within the communities they are broadcasting to.

Research conducted in 2014, suggests that 70% of all tertiary education students use the internet several times a week and that 73% of students listen to their respective campus radio broadcasts at least two days a week.  River FM Station Manager, Itumeleng Bahetane, says that the station is very excited to be taking part in this noble initiative. He says not only are they committed towards winning the grand prize money, but also to affected the lives of students positively.

“What is even more exciting about this competition is that as a station we will produce evidence-based content that talks to our diverse student community audiences in a meaningful way and ultimately help them to better understand their rights” says Bahetane.

*The SAHRC  is a state institution established in terms of Chapter 9 of the Constitution of South Africa to support constitutional democracy and is mandated in terms of section 184 (1) (a-c) of the Constitution to “promote respect, monitor, and assess the observance of human rights in South Africa”.

Source: North West University