By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
THE NEED for the media to protect the identities of victims of child abuse was raised by members of the National Child Protection Council yesterday.
The Council in collaboration with the Committee on Families and Children want journalists to decide and act upon a common protocol in reporting various child abuse matters.
Cleopatra Christie, Chairman of the Committee, cautioned reporters to refrain from noting intimate details including names, the relationship to the offender and street addressing claiming it then becomes too easy for the public to pinpoint victims.
Both organisations were specifically responding to how recent alleged child abuse cases were carried in the media.
“The media has played a major role,” Mrs Christie said, “in directing us to the problem which is worldwide. It is through the media that we learn of the atrocities committed against children. Therefore balancing the journalistic obligation to tell the truth and the need to protect children is fraught with difficulties and ethical questions. “
“A child’s fear is always who will find out. They fear the thought of their teachers, neighbours, friends and classmates will find out. Can you imagine those intimate details about their bodies exposed?
“Therefore the disclosure of victims names, addresses, schools, church, day care centres, the name of the parents or the offending family member for example, a mother or father should never be disclosed. How easy is it to identify a family or child from any of the above disclosures. So if you start talking about giving the names or addresses or even the offender you might as well publish the child’s name because people make the connection very easily.”
Under the Child Protection Act, it is an offence for any person to publish material that is likely to identify the victim.
A contravention of that rule is subject to a maximum fine of $5,000 or to imprisonment for up to 12 months.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID