El derecho a la comunicación: Principios y práctica de una utopía

The author distinguishes the 'right to communication' from the 'right to information,' arguing that while the latter focuses on the flow of data, the former emphasizes reciprocal human dialogue, participation, and the collective management of media. The text traces the historical evolution of this concept from the MacBride Report and the work of Jean D’Arcy, positioning it as a tool for social change and the inclusion of marginalized groups. It highlights Latin American experiences with community media and provides a detailed examination of Bolivia's 2009 Constitution and Law 223, which legally guarantee communication rights for the general population, indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities.

• The author defines communication as a human relational process of reciprocity and community building, distinguishing it from the role of media and technology, which are merely tools for diffusion rather than the act of communication itself.
• The right to communication is framed as a collective asset and a requirement for democratic governance, shifting the focus away from the unilateral interests of media owners and journalists toward the interests of all citizens.
• In Latin America, the pursuit of communication rights has manifested through social activism, including the creation of media observatories and citizen monitoring centers in countries such as Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Mexico, and Brazil to ensure gender equity and address poverty.
• Bolivia's 2009 Political Constitution of the State formally recognizes the right to communication and information in Article 106, while specifically granting indigenous peoples the right to create and manage their own communication networks (Art. 30.8).
• Bolivian law specifically protects the communication rights of persons with disabilities through the Constitution and Law 223 (2012), mandating the use of alternative languages and Bolivian Sign Language (LSB) in public institutions and television.

APA

Alvis, J. L. A. (2023). El derecho a la comunicación: Principios y práctica de una utopía. World Association for Christian Communication. https://waccglobal.org/el-derecho-a-la-comunicacion-principios-y-practica-de-una-utopia/

Chicago

Alvis, José Luis Aguirre. El derecho a la comunicación: Principios y práctica de una utopía. World Association for Christian Communication, 2023. https://waccglobal.org/el-derecho-a-la-comunicacion-principios-y-practica-de-una-utopia/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Alvis |first1=José Luis Aguirre |title=El derecho a la comunicación: Principios y práctica de una utopía |publisher=World Association for Christian Communication |date=22 February 2023 |url=https://waccglobal.org/el-derecho-a-la-comunicacion-principios-y-practica-de-una-utopia/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{alvis2023derecho, author = {Alvis, José Luis Aguirre}, title = {{El derecho a la comunicación: Principios y práctica de una utopía}}, institution = {World Association for Christian Communication}, year = {2023}, month = feb, url = {https://waccglobal.org/el-derecho-a-la-comunicacion-principios-y-practica-de-una-utopia/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }