"Media and Children’s Rights" Presented, by The Commissioner for Children’s Rights Office in Cyprus at the ENOC 16th Annual Conference and General Assembly- 10/10/2012 "Media and Children’s Rights"

Introduction  The media have a significant impact on the lives of modern children. Through the Media, children adopt behaviors, attitudes and values ​​that influence the development of their personality. The interaction of children with the Media is diverse and multidimensional: children as spectators, as subjects of news television or print, or children participating in entertainment programs. Children's rights in the Media sector is an important and sensitive issue and there are therefore enormous responsibilities, imposed to the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of the Child and the adult society, to protect and safeguard them. The media have a significant impact on the lives of modern children. Through the Media, children adopt behaviors, attitudes and values ​​that influence the development of their personality

Actions by the Commissioner Actions aiming to raise awareness and sensitize the public and the media professionals in respect of children’s rights: Interventions and/or Public Positions (to TV stations, printed media, the Cyprus Media Complaints Commission , the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection and the Cyprus RadioTelevision Authority) B. Cooperation with the Cyprus RadioTelevision Authority C. Publications D. Hosting working dinner for journalists

A. Interventions and/or Public Positions Public position regarding : the way the Media reported anti-social behavior by students in school premises. the way a child was presented by the Media and especially the television news within a fundraising aiming to cover the costs of her treatment. a child holding a leading role in a TV series, which included scenes of psychological, physical and sexual violence. the way the Media reported the case of a child who ended his life. Interventions: to the Cyprus Media Complaints Commission and the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection regarding reports that the Commissioner believed revealed children’s personal information in violation of their privacy and dignity. to the Cyprus RadioTelevision Authority regarding the appropriateness of TV programs and shows.

B. Cooperation with the Cyprus RadioTelevision Authority The CRTA, received a complaint regarding the specific way that the television news programs covered, incidents of sexual abuse of minors by a 38year-old man. The CRTA asked the Commissioner’s view on the protection of children's rights on the issue, and the criteria on which to evaluate, the way each station handled that news. In view of this, the Commissioner prepared a document with her positions regarding the Media and the Child Spectator, which can serve as a guide in evaluating the presentation of news from each station. The document was sent to CRTA and posted on the Commissioner’s website. The CRTA responded positively to the Commissioners’ position and decided to send the document to all television stations. The CRTA asked for the Commissioner’s recommendations on the bill entitled “The Law amending the Radio and Television Laws of 1998 to 2011” regarding the provisions concerning children.

C. Publications Issuing of “The Commissioner’s Position on the Rights of the Child, Media and the Child Spectator” Republication in Cyprus of the UNICEF Guide for Journalists “The media and Children’s Rights”

1. Issuing of "The Commissioner’s Position on the Rights of the Child, Media and the Child Spectator” The document, includes: Articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child relating directly or indirectly to the media. Description of the main findings on the negative effects on children from watching violence in entertainment and news television programs. Conclusions regarding the presentation of violent topics in the news, in order to limit their adverse effects on children. Suggestions regarding the role of professionals in the Media to protect children. Checklist on how to evaluate reports in the Media regarding child abuse cases. The document can serve as a guide in evaluating the presentation of news from each station.

2. Republication in Cyprus of the UNICEF Guide for Journalists “The media and Children’s Rights” The development of this Guide was commissioned by UNICEF in 1999, as part of the 10 years celebrations since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to the organization for media ethics MediaWise. The Guide was translated and published in Greek in 2009 on the initiative of the Greek National Committee for UNICEF, which granted the right to the Commissioner to issue the Guide in Cyprus. The objective of this guide is to help journalists working on issues concerning children understand the rights of the child and the importance of protecting these rights in the context of their professional activities.

This guide is an excellent tool for every professional working in the Media because it provides: knowledge about the protection of children's rights based on the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child ideas on issues relating to children guidelines and practical recommendations, whose implementation will contribute to creating a culture of respect for children's rights in the media sector and in the society.

D. Hosting working dinner for journalists The Commissioner hosted a working dinner for journalists in which she presented the Guide for Journalists of UNICEF «The Media and Children's Rights" and stressed the need for implementation.