A one-day regional level orientation workshop of North Eastern States on Child Rights for media personnel was held today at Pinewood Hotel, Shillong. The workshop was organised by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in collaboration with Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) and Seva Bharati Purbanchal.
Journalists from Meghalaya, Sikkim, Manipur, Tripura and Assam participated in the workshop which dwelt on critical aspects of various laws constituted for the protection of child rights.
Chairperson of MSCPCR, Smt. Iamon M Syiem during the inaugural speech said that such a workshop for media persons will help in protecting the rights of children and such interactions should continue further in the future. Acknowledging the role of the Media in highlighting the issues concerning the children at large, Smt Syiem said that Media professionals are champions of human rights. She said that Media also plays an important role in highlighting the gaps in measures taken for the prevention of crime against children. Media is also reporting cases which in turn help NCPCR to take suo-moto cognizance on violation of Child Rights and activate the concerned authorities in the process, she added.
During the technical session, Senior Technical Expert from NCPCR Shri Paresh Shah spoke on the technicalities of various laws to protect the rights of children. He discussed the clauses of non-disclosure of the child in media platforms and the roles of media in protecting child rights. He said that different aspects of child rights are protected by laws in the country.
Shri Shah gave an exhaustive presentation of the provisions under IPC available in the country for the protection of Child Rights. While recognizing the role of Media in championing the cause of child rights in the country, Shri Shah said that adequate care has to be taken while reporting in cases involving children in respect to the publishing of Child Sexual Abuse content, identity disclosure and other correlated issues. He referred to the provisions under Prevention of Child from Sexual abuse (POCS0),2012, U/s 74 of Juvenile Justice ( Care and Protection of Children) Act,2015 and Under Section 228 A (1) of Indian Penal Code ( IPC),1860. Even the disclosure of the identity of a deceased child attracts the penal provisions of Section 74 (1) of the JJ Act, 2015, he added.
Shri Shah also said that various codes and guidelines have been formulated by different authorities in the country which helps Media in reporting child rights issues from a proper perspective. He said that Media professionals frequently expose the plight of children caught up in circumstances beyond their control, or abused or exploited by adults. However, it is equally important to consider the “children’s angle” in more conventional news coverage or even in a television serial, he added. He said, “Content writers need to remind themselves that under the Right to Freedom of Expression, when reporting on children’s issues, freedom has to be exercised with caution as they hold a child’s life in their hands. Stories should be informative and not sensational. Children need to be treated as important subjects for the Media, and never be taken advantage of their vulnerability”. He opined that Media professionals who understand the consequence of their reporting, writing or programmes, appreciate the vulnerability of children, and believe in honest and accurate reporting and respect the rights of the children are truly champions of child rights.
While DCPO Social Welfare Department ML Warjri presented the psychological aspects of children who are abused. She said that media coverage on matters relating to children may have long term consequences on their overall development -physical, mental, psychological, emotional, moral and social, life and dignity; and lack of care by Media in this regard may entail real risks of children facing harm, stigma, disqualification and retribution. The privacy, dignity, physical and emotional development of children is of the utmost importance, which is to be preserved and protected at all times, while reporting, broadcasting, publication of news and programs on and for children, she added.
