Media Consultation on Child Protection Issues
 

                                                     Pictures Of Media Consultation


Child Protection is a worldwide phenomenon and children and women are the most vulnerable group in the various populations across the globe.

It is in this regard that the Working Group against Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) - Groupe Developpement and European Union (E.U) organized the media consultation on the “Role of Media on Child Protection Issues”, December 19, 2006 at the Best Western Hotel, Islamabad.

The major objectives of the consultation are: 

• To sensitize media and community on the protective issues of the children like health, education, food, shelter, sexual abuse and exploitation etc. 
   
• To enable the media to disseminate information on the issues of child protection to gain a deeper understanding of the tools at their disposal to develop a protective environment for children in Pakistan. 
   
• The media consultation aims at facilitating discussion on ways and mechanisms for developing a protective framework for children and about their rights.

Dr. Tufail Mehmood, Chairperson of Child Rights and Abuse Committee of Pakistan Pediatric Association, Ms. Manizeh Bano Executive Director, Media Expert Mr. Khuda Yar Khan, leading journalist from The News Mr. Mubarik Virk, Mr Zamir Nafis Editor Daily Asas and Mr. Manzoor Sadiaq Editor Daily Ausaf  shared their experiences of working on social beats including Child Rights and Protection Issues in the country.

They highlighted the importance of using media as an advocacy tool for awareness raising and public dialogue on hard core issues such as Child Sexual Abuse being ampant in Pakistan. However, they felt that the media in the country needs to be equipped with capacity building trainings on reporting of sensitive issues such as these.

They threw light on perceptions of the society including parents, acquaintances, teachers, civil societies and media on victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. There are gaps in understandings of the issue and how it affects the young minds that have faced these heinous crimes with their innocence snatched away. They shared their concerns on the civil societies and NGOs working in the country on children related issues including CSA and CSEC.

     House vibrated with many questions and comments from different stake holders present.

These included:

• Circumstances where children are more vulnerable as highlighted by the Sahil Data analysis and how these  issues must be highlighted in the Newspapers.
   
• Perceptions such as whether the reporting of CSA is bad or is the crime bad in itself.
   
• Inhibitions of the media to highlight the issues especially in the incest cases.
   
• NGOs /CSOs working on CSA to have a methodology of interacting with the media for awareness raising.
   
• Do NGOs plan to lobby for a legislation and punishment for CSA issue?
   
• Media has highlighted the issues related to the exploitation of children but still there is a need for a more focused approach.

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