Asked in the run-up to this weekend's Istanbul International Independent Media Forum the key question of "what kind of a media?" Gundem Cocuk association's response was a media that respects human rights.
According to Gundem Cocuk, children's rights are in priority human rights and it is not possible to have an environment that respects the right of the child but violates human rights. The association believes that the media should first respect human rights and then avoid any publication of a nature that could lead to the exploitation of a child, discriminate between people or lead to hatred, enmity of undeserved concern.
Gundem Cocuk wants media organizations to clearly declare their publishing principles to their readership while opening new fields of opportunities within the media that will allow for the participation of children.
What kind of a media do you want?
We asked Gundem Cocuk to outline to us what kind of a media they would want and received a reply predominantly focusing on the rights of the child and protection of children.
Gundem Cocuk stresses that an important part of the visual and audible building stones in this age are sourced in the media itself and that many children learn about the world, its concepts, values, opportunities and properties from the media. As the media enters the life of a child at a very young age, the association says this is enough reason for the media to be constantly aware of its responsibilities while determining its position with regard to children rights.
But, says Gundem Cocuk, before even identifying the issue of children rights, it needs to be addressed as human rights in general since one is part of the whole.
The association says the publishing principles of media organizations that should be declared to their readership need to be in harmony with universal human rights and at a standard that actually further develops these values.
Gundem Cocuk believes that members of the press need to be educated on these principles and only after these standards have been achieved can it be possible to look at the issue in the context of children rights.
Coming with the view is two group of recommendations to improve and shape a safer new media.
Situations to avoid
* Avoiding publications that can lead to the exploitation of children
* Protecting children rights and honor in news/publishing/commercials where children will be the subject or participants
* Prevention of children being made instrumental in news/publishing/advertising or being used as decorative items or a mascot
* Receiving permission from parents for productions on the subject of a child or hosting a child
* Preventing publications or broadcast that could negatively effect children and raise feelings of enmity, discrimination, hatred or needless concern in them while respecting the freedom of expression and the freedom to be informed of the child through a careful balance in favor of the child.
Situations to support
* To give presence to publications and broadcasts that would assist a child in becoming more creative, open-minded and peaceful which are required by a child for self-development.
* Opening fields in the media allowing for children to participate
* Ensuring they can express their happiness and disturbances and taking into account these views
* Where it is required or relevant, providing the opportunity for their direct or indirect participation
Can these be achieved?
Gundem Cocuk believes it is a must for the media to accept that children rights are important but that this can only be achieved by the more pioneering organizations taking this responsibility, such as translating the BBC broadcasting principles into Turkish and publishing them.
One of the main problems at current, says the organization, is the media's ignorance of the issue and the lack of wide-spread information on the rights of the child. In many cases, it says, the content of a program or publication is not known and it is not known whether it violates rights or not.
One of Gundem Cocuk's primary goals is to create a system of monitoring and interfering on the issue of children's rights. Which means following up on children rights violations as much as possible and making the necessary initiatives against those responsible for such violations. The association itself can also provide direct support to media organizations who wish to improve on this issue.
In addition to the above, the association has a few more concrete recommendations to initiate improvements in the media. Training of staff according to the standards and broadcasting/publishing principles established is a way forward, it says. Children, meanwhile, can be consulted or their views taken when media reports relate to their issues. Children could be a source of information to their own problems which could then be brought to the agenda and opportunities could be given to children to produce their own media products.
Other suggestions include the media giving children a regular place, more reference to children rights issues in he media, consulting with children before media programs about them, increasing the number of publications that will teach children their own rights. (KÖ/EÖ/II/TK)
