From Nasir Shuaibu, BAUCHI
The National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Bauchi State Chapter, has called on women journalists to use their platforms to promote public awareness and strengthen community action on child protection.
The appeal was made during a training session being organised by National Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ on child protection and the role of the media in creating a safe environment for children Wednesday in Bauchi.
NAWOJ chairperson, Rashida said journalists must avoid reporting practices that could expose children to trauma, stigma, harm or other forms of vulnerability.
Mrs Yusuf urged journalists to improve their understanding of the Child Protection Law and ensure that their reports protected the rights, dignity and well-being of children.
She encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the training in their newsrooms and make child protection part of their routine reporting decisions.
The Chief Magistrate Court of the Bauchi State Ministry of Justice, Amina Garba, said journalists had an important role to play in helping communities understand the laws and structures established to protect children.
She explained that the best interests of the child should guide all decisions and reports concerning children.
Garba warned against publishing information that could reveal the identities of children involved in sensitive cases, either directly or indirectly.
She said journalists should not assume that blurring a child’s face was sufficient protection, especially where other details could enable people in the community to identify the child.
The Chief Magistrate urged the media to educate the public on child protection laws and the responsibilities of individuals and communities in safeguarding children.
She also advised journalists to familiarise themselves with child protection structures and reporting mechanisms to ensure that cases involving children were directed to the appropriate authorities.
According to her, responsible reporting could help protect children’s rights while encouraging communities to create safer and more child-friendly environments.
Participants Mrs Jennifer Magawata and Beatrice Godiya welcomed the training, describing it as timely and useful.
They said the programme had provided journalists, especially women journalists, with the knowledge required to improve reporting on child protection issues.
They added that the training would help ensure that the rights of every child were protected and that reports involving children complied with relevant laws and provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
They thanked the organisers for equipping journalists with knowledge of the Child Protection Act and other laws guiding their profession.
The event was attended by women journalists under the platform of NAWOJ, Bauchi State Chapter.
0 Comments