In celebration of the International Women's Day on 8 March, The World Association of Community Broadcasters- Women's International Network (AMARC-WIN) will broadcast for 24 hours programmes produced by women community radio journalists from around the globe. This year, the theme of the campaign is "financing for gender equality and women's empowerment", a priority theme of the 52nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

AMARC is an international non-governmental organisation serving the community radio movement, with almost 3,000 members and associates in 110 countries. It aims to support and contribute to the development of community and participatory radio along the principles of solidarity and international cooperation. The Women's International Network (WIN) of AMARC unites women broadcasters from community radio stations around the the world, working towards equal participation of women in the community radio movement and in society in general and towards a gender-fair and respectful portrayal of people, especially women in community radio and in media in general.While most governments express their support for gender equality and women's empowerment, their commitments are hardly translated into action, usually citing budget constraints. This worldwide radio campaign will reiterate questions which have long been raised and address them with stories from the ground: How do women demand gendered budgets and programmes? What positive experiences did women obtain when governments concretely support long and short term initiatives geared towards gender equality and women's empowerment?

The various programmes will be broadcast in different languages on the AMARC website, www.win/amarc.org. Listeners are invited to follow the 24 hour- March 8 campaign live broadcast online or download individual programmes during the whole month. AMARC-WIN strongly encourages radios to benefit from this rich choice of women testimonies from around the world in rebroadcasting the programmes on their local radio stations.

Tune in to the live programme (and downloads) on 8 March at www.win/amarc.org. Below is the programming schedule:

Asia-Pacific/Kathmandu : 1:00-8:30 GMT = 6:45-14:15 local time
Middle-East/Amman : 8:30-8:48 GMT = 7:00-7:18 local time
Africa/Johannesburg : 8:48-13:57 GMT = 10:48-15:57 local time
Europe/Rome : 13:57-16:03 GMT = 14:57-17:03 local time
Latin America/Buenos Aires : 16:03-18:29 GMT = 13:03-15:29 local time
North America/Montreal : 18:29-2:51 GMT = 13:29-21:51 local time