Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 11:

Children need a normal and non-violent environment to grow and develop, and media being an effective and sensitive medium, has a great role play. This was stated by experts at a programme on ‘Role of Media for Child Development’ organised today by the Voice of Children, a monthly magazine. “Media should be determined, and campaign to protect a child’s right to grow in normal environment,” said editor of Samay weekly. Pointing out that children’s issues are given importance in the Nepali media, he stressed for an evaluation of the news to judge the impact of the news items on the development of children. Committee member of Human Right Commission, Sushil Pyakurel, said, “Children are the most vulnerable lot during a state of Emergency. With the media in the role of a human rights defender, accurate and objective information about children will help the authorities concerned an idea in which direction to proceed.”

President of Child Development Society, Sharad Sharma, presented a paper on the role of government, NGOs and the media in child development with a historical background of the legal system in Nepal, problems faced by children and media’s role in the entire thing.

Meanwhile, a two-day workshop organised by Sath Sath and the British embassy on ‘Media Sensitisation and Campaign on working children’ concluded with directives and guidance regarding the street children. Participants agreed on the need to change the way street children’s issues are reported and stressed on analytical news to bridge the gap between society and street children, impact of conflict on street children, role of police and journalists in their daily life.

Gham Raj Luintel of Radio Sagarmatha said, “Media needs to be sensitive while reporting on street children, should consider their privacy and enhance the child’s rights.” Yuba Raj Ghimire said, “A child once portrayed as a criminal by the media gets very less opportunity rid himself of that image. Therefore, in such circumstances, efforts should be made from respective sectors and media to give that child an opportunity.” He added the Press council should have a policy to advocate children’s issues.