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[ISLAMABAD, 5 September 2007] - Media organisations in Pakistan need to regard violations of the rights of children as important questions for investigation and public debate, said National Commission for Child Welfare and Development (NCCWD) Director Mohammad Hassan Mangi, at a two-day National Media Workshop on combating child marriages and corporal punishment this week. He said the media should strive to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct in reporting children’s issues. “There is a dire need to revitalise our thinking particularly in promoting awareness and reducing violence against children,” he said. Mangi said there were 18 million child labourers in Pakistan, which was an alarming figure. Controlling this figure requires collaboration between the media and the government. Social Welfare and Special Education Ministry Additional Secretary Hafeezur Rehman said the media should strive for standards of excellence in terms of accuracy and sensitivity when reporting on issues involving children. “The media should avoid programming and publication of images which intrude upon the media space of children with information which is damaging to them,” he said. He said the use of stereotypes and sensational presentation to promote journalistic material involving children should be avoided, and the media should consider carefully the consequences of publication of any material concerning children to minimise harm. Ethical approach “The dignity and rights of every child are to be respected in every circumstance and reporters should be ethical in their approach,” he said. Allama Iqbal University Mass Communication Department Chairman Saqib Riaz suggested the media could highlight child-related problems by writing special features exploring the hazardous effects of child marriage and corporal punishment. “There is a need to conduct talk shows and debates on television so that people come to know the consequences of such cases,” he said. He said the ministry should launch a comprehensive campaign over this issue and journalists could suggest what steps the government could take to make their campaign successful. After a detailed panel discussion, participants of the workshop agreed to develop a mechanism to report causes and impacts of child marriages and corporal punishment. Further information
pdf: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C09%5C05%5Cstory_5-9...