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DRAFT CODE FOR JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA WHEN REPORTING ON CASES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND PEDOPHILIA 

This Code contains a collection of adopted principles that the journalists and media are to adhere to when reporting on cases of violence against children, in particular in cases of child sexual abuse and pedophilia. 

Protection of children’s privacy, identity and integrity

 

The journalists and media are to bear in mind that the protection of children’s privacy is to be given primacy to the significance of information and that the children’s rights and interests enjoy greater protection than the rights and interests of other people.

The journalists and media are to protect children’s privacy from irrational and sensational public disclosure.

The journalists and media are to protect children’s identity, integrity and privacy when reporting on cases of child sexual abuse and pedophilia by not disclosing, revealing, exposing or releasing the identity of children involved in any such cases, regardless of the fact whether they are in the capacity of victims or witnesses.

The journalists and media are to employ techniques for special presentation of the involved in the case, i.e. they are not to identify the sexual abuse victim or to disclose information that could contribute to any likely identification of the child. They may not show any photographs of the child that could lead to child recognition by other people.

The journalists and media are to use indistinct recording or recordings made from behind one’s back with mutated voice. They may not identify the home where the child resides or the institution where the child is educated or taken care of. In addition to this, they may not disclose any particularities about the sexual act and/or exerted violence against the child, etc.

The journalists and media are to pay heed to the best interests of children.

The journalists and media are to take into consideration that improper reporting may lead to permanent consequences to children’s lives.

The journalists and media are to respect the presumption of innocence of the accused until proven guilty by judicial ruling.

 

Acquisition of information and statements by all relevant institutions

The journalists and media are to release well-grounded information substantiated by official statements given by competent institutions (schools, ministries, welfare centers, the Ombudsman, Public Prosecution, health institutions, courts, civic organizations and other institutions.  

The journalists and media are to implement researching journalism which is required for monitoring the case till the end, to make known the outcome and to ask for accountability from the respective entities for the purpose of more efficient case resolution as one of the forms of protection of children’s rights.

The journalists and media may not take statements from children (only one statement may be taken from a child by a competent team under special circumstances).

The journalists and media may not photograph or interview children victims or children witnesses. Statements may be taken from the parents/ custodians (adult family members in sound health and in full possession of their faculties) but again attention is to be paid to the protection of the privacy, identity and integrity of both the family and children.

The journalists and media are to take special care of children witnesses so as not to jeopardize them prior to event disclosure. 

The journalists and media are to report on children’s position not only as an event, but they are to report on the process that may lead or leads to the occurrence of that event.

The journalists and media are to be involved in creating the public opinion, mobilizing the institutions and parents for the purpose of children’s protection and making commitments for problem solving.  

The journalists and media using their stories are to encourage children to break silence about violence and recognize it, but this must be performed in a professional manner employing all protective and technical means that guarantee the privacy and protection of children’s identity and integrity.

The journalists and media are to provide for proper implementation of this Code, thus contributing to preventing the occurrence.

The journalists and media are obliged to adhere to and apply the principles of the United Nations Convention of Rights of the Child and any other international documents pertaining to rights of the child.

The journalists and media should/may improve and amend the Code further in the spirit of the adopted and acknowledged principles regarding the professional ethics of the journalists in the Republic of Macedonia.