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IARU Region 1 Clarification Regarding Recent Legal Proceedings in Belarus
· EC, News · Sylvain, F4GKR

Following reports regarding the prosecution of radio operators in Belarus, IARU Region 1 issues the following statement to clarify the distinction between amateur radio activities and individual legal compliance :

1. The Scope of Amateur Radio Amateur radio is a technical, educational, and service-oriented hobby defined internationally by the ITU and governed by national regulations. Its purpose is the self-training, intercommunication, and technical investigation carried out by amateurs — that is, duly authorised persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest.

2. Accountability and the Law While the individuals involved in this case hold amateur radio licenses, our investigation indicates that the actions leading to their prosecution fall entirely outside the scope of the amateur radio service. An amateur radio license grants the privilege to experiment with technology and communicate within specific parameters; it does not grant immunity from national laws, nor does it authorise the use of radio equipment for activities that contravene the legal framework of a sovereign state.

3. Distinguishing the Hobby from the Action We believe the public narrative surrounding this case has been somewhat misplaced. The core issue is not the practice of amateur radio itself, but rather a failure to comply with specific national laws. It is vital to distinguish between the legitimate use of amateur frequencies and actions that are unrelated to the technical and social goals of our community.

4. Our Position IARU Region 1 does not condone or support any actions by licensed operators that bypass legal requirements or violate the terms of their amateur license. We advocate for the protection of our spectrum and the rights of our members, but this advocacy is predicated on the “Amateur Code” — which dictates that an operator must be balanced, loyal, and law-abiding.

The amateur radio community is built on a foundation of international cooperation and respect for regulation. We urge our members to remember that the integrity of our hobby depends on our collective commitment to operating within the legal boundaries of our respective countries.

We will continue to monitor the situation, but we reiterate that the legal consequences faced by individuals for actions outside the scope of their license are a matter for the relevant judicial systems.

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IARU at HAM RADIO 2025
· EC, Events, News · Lisa, PA2LS

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) is excited to announce its participation at HAM RADIO 2025, set to take place from June 27 to June 29, 2025. This event will bring together amateur radio enthusiasts from around the world, continuing its tradition as one of the most anticipated gatherings in the global amateur radio community.

At HAM RADIO 2025, IARU will once again feature three key zones in hall A1:

  • IARU Main Booth — A central hub for engaging with IARU volunteers
  • IARU Youth Booth — Learn more about our activities and initiatives to support young operators around the world. It will also serve as a meeting point for young radio amateurs to connect and exchange experiences. In addition to the scheduled events, we are also bringing back the traditional Off Air Contest—a fun and engaging challenge where participants simulate contest operations without using any radios. Sounds easy? There’s always a surprise or two, like unexpected SSTV signals or someone tuning up their amplifier! We warmly invite everyone to visit the Youth Booth — whether you’re curious about our work, want to get involved, or just wish to say hello.
  • IARU Innovation Zone — Showcasing the latest technologies, open-source innovations, and open discussions and demos about the future of our hobby. Learn more on what to expect in this press release.

In addition to these booths, IARU is organizing a series of main events on the HAM RADIO stage:

  • Friday, June 27:
    • 12:00 – 12:30: VHF+ Prize Ceremony
    • 13:00 – 14:00: DYM & YOTA Contest Prize Ceremony
  • Saturday, June 28:
    • 15:30 – 16:15: YOTA Flag Ceremony

Further meetings and discussions will take place in designated meeting rooms:

  • Friday, June 27:
    • 12:00 – 16:00: Emergency Communications (EMCOMM) – Admin Building, 5th Floor
    • 16:00 – 18:00: International Meeting – Room: Liechtenstein
  • Saturday, June 28:
    • 10:00 – 12:00: Youth Committee – Room: Liechtenstein
    • 12:00 – 14:00: EMC – Room: Schwarzwald

As the event approaches, we will continue updating this schedule, ensuring all attendees receive the latest information.

“Photo: Messe Friedrichshafen“

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New Executive Committee elected at IARU R1 Conference
· EC, General Conference · Lisa, PA2LS

Today, on the 24th of October 2021, the new Executive Committee has been elected at the IARU R1 Conference.

The new IARU R1 EC consists of the following team:
- President: Sylvain Azarian, F4GKR
- Vice-President: Hani Raad, OD5TE
- Secretary: Mats Espling, SM6EAN
- Treasurer: Andreas Thiemann, HB9JOE
- EC member: Ahmad AlHoli, 9K2DB
- EC member: Joerg Jaehrig, DJ3HW
- EC member: Alessandro Carletti, IV3KKW
- EC member: Lisa Leenders, PA2LS
- EC member: Oliver Tabakovski, Z32TO

We take the opportunity to thank the former Executive Committee for their dedicated work over the past 4 years.

More information about the IARU R1 Conference and Workshop 2021 will be shared soon.

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UPDATE: COVID-19 Situation and YOTA Activities
· EC, News, Youth General · Mario, EA1JAY

Despite the COVID-19 situation having improved over the past few months on a global scale, the development and dynamics of the pandemic remain unpredictable. The same unpredictability goes for regulations regarding the pandemic, which in many cases severely limit the ability to hold in-person events with international participants.

To deal with the pandemic situation, an event cancellation policy was introduced earlier this year (https://​www​.iaru​-r1​.org/​2​0​2​1​/​c​o​v​i​d​-​1​9​-​s​i​t​u​a​t​i​o​n​-​a​n​d​-​y​o​t​a​-​c​a​m​ps/), which introduced a four month deadline for a go/no-go decision for in-person events. This four month deadline has however turned out to slightly too far into the future for a reliable prediction.

Accordingly, the IARU R1 Youth WG, in collaboration with the IARU R1 Executive Committee, has made the following arrangement:

Youth events scheduled within 2021 will remain in the calendar for the time being. We, the IARU R1 Youth WG, will review the forecast evolution of the pandemic sufficiently prior to each event and make an announcement about whether it will take place. Generally this will be three months prior to the scheduled date. Those planning to attend should thus have sufficient time to make the necessary bookings and travel arrangements.

IARU Region 1’s intent is to ensure that any events which take place do so in an environment which respects national requirements for pandemic control and which does not place at risk the health and well-being of those participating.

The IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group

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Facing the future of amateur radio
· EC, General Conference · Lisa, PA2LS

Tonight IARU Region 1 started preparing together with its Member Societies a Workshop with focus on the future of amateur radio. The message being shared in this session is clear. IARU societies are losing members; loss in members in some societies is remarkable in the last ten years, even with good examination throughput. Next to this, persons in leadership roles in these societies are getting older. Not all Member Societies have top team members under the age of 35 years.
The IARU Region 1 Executive Committee shares that it’s time for change and we need to start moving forward. Working together and changing the current trends. We need to refocus our thinking and way of operating.
Main questions and topics which will be covered in the Workshop are:
What is amateur radio today? How is it changing? Where are tomorrow’s radio amateurs? How do others see amateur radio? What do we need to do for the future?
Member societies are called upon to take actively part by nominating people with future oriented mind-set and prepare for this Workshop. Key will be to include new people into the discussion, hoping to reach new ideas and new ways of thinking. The Workshop “Facing the future” is scheduled to be held in October 2021 hopefully in Novi-Sad Serbia, hosted by SRS, the Serbian Amateur Radio Society. A virtual alternative Workshop will be prepared as well.

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