The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICT) and the Lao Journalist Association (LJA), together with UNICEF, today held its second orientation workshop on the Guidelines for Media Reporting on Children in Luang Prabang province.
The workshop, which was held from 21-23 July, was aimed at enhancing Lao media professionals’ understanding of children’s rights and their capacity to ethically report on children and child rights issues in the country, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The workshop was attended by media professionals and editors from multiple northern provinces of the country, including Luang Prabang, Sayaboury, Xieng khuang, Huaphan and Vientiane province, and was co-chaired by Vice President of the LJA Pinpathana Phanthamaly, Deputy Director of Luang Prabang Provincial Department of Information Culture and Tourism Saysamone Thipkhakone, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist Khamsay Iemsouthi.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted social services throughout the country and have put Lao children and women at risk. In this regard, the media has a key role to play in advancing their rights during the pandemic and it is very important that media professionals understand and are capable of reporting on these issues ethically,” stated Vice President of the LJA Pinpathana Phanthamaly.
The Guidelines for Media Reporting on Children was updated based on the 2005 guidelines and is designed to further strengthen media professionals’ understanding of children’s rights and how child rights issues can be reported in news stories as well as print and broadcast media in a manner that protects the rights and dignity of children. This also includes children’s rights to privacy, which is becoming increasingly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic where people are relying more on digital technology for communication and the rapid dissemination of information.
“UNICEF would like to commend the MICT and LJA for their achievement in developing and disseminating the Guidelines for Media Reporting on Children,” stated UNICEF Child Protection Specialist Khamsay Iemsouthi. “We recognise the key role of media professionals in keeping children’s rights on the news agenda and it is our sincerest hope that the workshop has contributed to strengthening the media’s capacity to report on child rights issues in the Lao PDR and ensuring that no child is left behind,” she added.
Prior to this workshop, another workshop with media professionals was recently organised by the MICT in Vientiane earlier this month. After the conclusion of the workshop for northern provinces, MICT will also be organising media workshops on child rights for more southern and northern provinces in August 2021.
In addition, 10,000 copies of the Guidelines for Media Reporting on Children, which were developed and produced through generous support from USAID and the Government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), will be printed and distributed to media professionals across the county.
Source: Lao News Agency