La participación en la producción radial y la comunicación para el desarrollo de las personas privadas de la libertad del Centro de Rehabilitación Social Cotopaxi

Abstract

Communication for Development is a complex process of interaction which involves the willingness of the change agents and recognizes the mass media as "indispensable tool" (Ulloa, 2007: 31) to get the greatest number of people; as long as it can be used as an integral planned strategy in which citizens will become "managers of progress and democratization of societies" (Alfaro, 1993: 20). It puts more interest in the debate and confrontation of ideas to build agreements and to know disagreements, in order to conclude in proposals that benefit all the participants of this structural change process in their lifestyles; by creating alternative pathways that allow to understand the reality from another point of view, because the CfD "creates conditions for the dialogue" (Ulloa, 2007: 150) thanks to the permanent participation and valuable contribution of the new communication and information technologies, provided that it can be possible to access them. Once this favorable atmosphere is created for the CfD progress, "the access, dialogue and participation" (Beltrán, 2005: 21) opened to all who wish to exercise their right to communicate and express them freely and voluntarily, is indispensable. In Ecuador "the custodial penalties have as essential purpose the reform and social rehabilitation of people deprived of liberty" (CIDH, 2011: 5). Therefore, Communication for Development must provide sufficient strategies to make it "vigil, teacher and formulator of new ideas" (Schramm, 1969) that will allow the person deprived of liberty be informed, get involved in decision-making and learn new skills; fulfilling "the prison system consisting in a treatment whose main purpose will be the reformation and social rehabilitation "(CIDH, 2011: 238) of those who are serving a sentence, agreeing with the idea that educational, cultural and employment programs are necessary to reach the aims of these organizations responding to the defense of human rights. There are several successful experiences in the implementation of Communication for Development which have made use of it as an alternative to rebuild their social environment. This investigation concludes with the creation of a virtual platform that will undoubtedly increase the level of participation in the radio program "Voices of Freedom", ensuring people deprived of liberty their right to communication and information. Furthermore, it allows them to think about a true rehabilitation, grounded in communication as a strategy for social change and human development.