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Thursday March 28, 2024

Harsh realities linked to violence against children discussed

IslamabadHarsh realities and sensitivities linked to violence against children were discussed at large at a one-day training workshop for the media titled ‘Ending Violence against Children’ organised by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights here on Wednesday.The media was advised not to publish a story or an image,

By Myra Imran
April 16, 2015
Islamabad
Harsh realities and sensitivities linked to violence against children were discussed at large at a one-day training workshop for the media titled ‘Ending Violence against Children’ organised by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights here on Wednesday.
The media was advised not to publish a story or an image, which might put the child, siblings or peers at risk and always change the name and obscure the visual identity of any child who is identified as a victim of sexual abuse, HIV positive or convict of a crime unless the child, a parent or a guardian gives fully informed consent.
The media persons were informed about cruel statistics of different forms of violence against children.
The speakers shared that around 1.2 million children every year lost their innocence due to child trafficking world over leaving long-lasting effects on their physical and mental health. They said that globally US $5.5 billion are earned through this business annually.
National Commission for Child Welfare and Development (NCCWD) Director Muhammad Hassan Mangi said the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights has tabled two bills on the rights of children. “The bills aimed to provide care, protection, maintenance, welfare, training, education, rehabilitation and reintegration of children at risk,” he informed.
In addition, he said that A Juvenile Justice System Bill is also under consideration with the object of codifying and amending the laws relating to criminal justice system. “The bill proposes seven year imprisonment and huge amount of fine for those found guilty in child sexual abuse.”
Hassan Mangi also informed that in collaboration with Lawyers for Human Rights and Human Aid (LHLRA), a non-government organisation they have established a helpline 1,098 for reporting case of child right violations functioning in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. “In Islamabad, a helpline would soon be functional at Child Protection Centre.”
NCCWD Assistant Director Muhammad Abrar talked about the general concepts of violence against women in society. He said that due to social acceptance of many forms of violence against children, majority of the cases of VAC remain unreported. “Cases such as insect and child sexual abuse are not reported as they involve honour of the families,” he added. He briefed the participants about thematic areas of South Asian Initiative for Ending Violence against Children.
Researcher and President Journalists for Democracy and Human Rights (JDHR) Shafqat Munir gave presentation on ‘Media Ethics for Reporting Issues involving Children.’ He urged mediapersons to strive for standards of excellence in terms of accuracy and sensitivity when reporting on issues involving children and avoid using stereotype and sensational presentation to promote journalistic material involving children.
The participants were also advised to ensure independent verification of information provided by children and take special care to ensure that verification takes place without putting child information at risk. They were also encouraged to avoid questions or comments that are judgmental, insensitive to cultural values that place a child in danger or expose a child to humiliation, grief or trauma.
The workshop was attended by mediapersons, officials of Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights and representatives of organisations working on child rights.