Media urged to highlight HR issues more meaningfully
ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights SM Zafar on Thursday called for more meaningful media projection of the issues of human rights, especially child abuse.
“Today is the era of globalisation in which the role of media has increased manifolds in brining the issues of human rights, especially child abuse, to the limelight. The journalists should handle the human right issues with care and in a more meaningful and friendly manner, as sensitive reporting of such issues will have a profound impact on the society,” said Zafar at a function.
The function was organised by Sahil, an NGO working against child abuse, to distribute ‘Child Friendly Newspaper Awards, 2007,’ to the journalists and launch ‘Media Reports on Trends in Child Sexual Abuse, 2007.
Sahil praised: Zafar praised Sahil for work against child abuse, saying the NGO has to its credit bringing a sensitive, tabooed issue to the forefront through a culturally appropriate approach.
Govt efforts: He said strenuous efforts were underway to rein in the growing incidents of child abuse.
PTV, Islamabad, Director (International Relations) MZ Sohail said on the occasion that children and women were most vulnerable to sexual assault.
“The children are forced to earn a living for their families. This way, they are caught in a web of sufferings including threats to health, exposure to violence, sexual and economical abuse and exploitation and they all led to a bleak future,” he said.
Sohail said that children needed protection against abuse, commercial exploitation, forced marriages, corporal punishment etc. He said the dignity and rights of every child should be respected under all circumstances.
Sahil Executive Director Manizeh Bano said her NGO created public awareness of child abuse through media, workshops, tableaux, theatre, symposia, teacher training and distribution of written material.
She praised the media for effectively highlighting the menace of child abuse. She later distributed Child Friendly Newspaper Awards, 2007, to the representatives of the newspapers, which were chosen for giving best coverage to child abuse and related issues.
Source: Daily Times
Date:4/18/2008
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