Mandatory policies for child-friendly media
sharjah — Sharjah will make it mandatory for the media to adopt policies that develop a childfriendly media environment, said Dr Hessa Khalfan Al Ghazal, executive director of Sharjah Baby Friendly office (SBFO).
Addressing the forum or forum titled ‘Professional Principles for Arab Media in Handling Child Rights Issues’ organised on Tuesday by SBFO, said that the need for ethical journalism in handling childhood issues, reflecting their appropriate image in society, respecting them and maintaining their dignity and rights in all news coverage is more important.
The forum organised in coordination with the Gulf Area Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), Arab Council for Childhood and Development (ACCD) the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) and Unicef.
The two-day forum that kicked
It is imperative for Arab media to enable a supportive environment for children by reflecting their appropriate image in society, respecting them and maintaining their dignity and rights in all news coverage.” Dr Hessa Khalfan Al Ghazal, executive director, SBFO
off on Tuesday includes several workshops aimed at promoting media protection for children, to map out a framework for an ethical strategy for Arab media professionals to adopt when handling child rights issues. Dr Hessa Khalfan Al Ghazal, executive director of SBFO; Dr Essam Ali, social policy specialist at Unicef Gulf; and Mohamed Reda Fawzy, director of Research and Knowledge Development at the Arab Council for Childhood and Development (ACCD), presided over the event.
“It is imperative for Arab media to enable a supportive environment for children by reflecting their appropriate image in society, maintaining their dignity and rights,” Dr Al Ghazal said.
Fatima Yousef Bin Sandal, director of Government Communications and Marketing at Sharjah Media Corporation (SMC): “How many times have we come across a touching story about the suffering of children in some countries, or sympathised with children recounting their experience of being subjected to violence or abuse?”
She elaborated: “Such heartbreaking accounts prompt us to question the use of children as mere media material — radio, TV, newspapers competing to reveal their unspeakable circumstances. What will be the impact of such propaganda on them? Aren’t we just adding insult to their injuries? What impact will such sensationalism have on young impressionable minds?”
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com