Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union

Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union is a professional association of broadcasting organizations in the Asia-Pacific region, working closely with European Broadcasting Union, Arab States Broadcasting Union, and African Union of Broadcasting. The union has strong ties with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, International Labour Organization, and World Health Organization. Its members include NHK of Japan, KBS of South Korea, CCTV of China, and Doordarshan of India, among others, such as Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio New Zealand, and Mediacorp of Singapore.

● History

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union was established in 1964, with the aim of promoting cooperation and collaboration among broadcasting organizations in the Asia-Pacific region, in line with the principles of United Nations Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The union's founding members included Radio Television Malaysia, Philippine Broadcasting Service, and Thai Public Broadcasting Service, as well as Radio Australia and New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation. Over the years, the union has grown to include members from over 70 countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, and Fiji, with support from Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund. The union has also established partnerships with other regional broadcasting organizations, such as European Broadcasting Union, Arab States Broadcasting Union, and African Union of Broadcasting, as well as Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

● Membership

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union has a diverse membership of 75 broadcasting organizations from across the Asia-Pacific region, including China Central Television, Japan Broadcasting Corporation, Korean Broadcasting System, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Members also include Radio Television Hong Kong, Singapore Press Holdings, and MediaCorp of Singapore, as well as Thai Public Broadcasting Service, National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, and Vietnam Television. The union's members are committed to upholding the principles of freedom of expression and journalistic integrity, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, with guidance from United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Children's Fund. The union also has associate members, including Google, Facebook, and Twitter, as well as Al Jazeera, BBC, and CNN, which provide support and expertise to the union's activities, in collaboration with International Federation of Journalists and Committee to Protect Journalists.

● Activities

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union is involved in a range of activities, including training and capacity building programs for broadcasters, as well as research and development initiatives, in partnership with Asian Institute of Technology, University of Tokyo, and National University of Singapore. The union also organizes conferences and workshops on topics such as digital broadcasting, media regulation, and journalism ethics, with participation from Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge. Additionally, the union provides technical assistance and consultancy services to its members, with support from International Telecommunication Union, World Intellectual Property Organization, and World Trade Organization. The union also collaborates with other regional organizations, such as Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Pacific Islands Forum, to promote regional cooperation and integration, in line with the principles of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and United Nations Environment Programme.

● Organization

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union is governed by a General Assembly, which meets annually to discuss key issues and set the union's strategic direction, with guidance from International Labour Organization and United Nations Development Programme. The union is headed by a President, who is elected by the General Assembly for a two-year term, and is supported by a Secretariat based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with collaboration from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and World Health Organization. The union also has a number of committees and working groups, which focus on specific areas such as digital broadcasting, media regulation, and journalism ethics, with participation from European Broadcasting Union, Arab States Broadcasting Union, and African Union of Broadcasting. The union's members are also represented on the World Broadcasting Unions council, which brings together broadcasting organizations from around the world, including National Association of Broadcasters and European Broadcasting Union, to promote global cooperation and exchange, in line with the principles of United Nations Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

● Notable_events

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union has hosted a number of notable events, including the ABU TV Song Festival, which brings together singers and musicians from across the region, and the ABU Radio Song Festival, which showcases the best of radio broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region, with participation from KBS of South Korea, NHK of Japan, and CCTV of China. The union has also organized conferences and workshops on topics such as disaster risk reduction and media development, with support from United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and United Nations Development Programme. In addition, the union has partnered with other organizations, such as Red Cross and Red Crescent, to promote humanitarian broadcasting and emergency communication, in line with the principles of Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law. The union's events and activities have been supported by a range of organizations, including Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund, as well as Google, Facebook, and Twitter, with collaboration from International Federation of Journalists and Committee to Protect Journalists.