Mediapersons in the district were cautioned against overzealous reporting of child-related issues, including child abuse, by blindly following the information provided by sources.
“Always report in the best interest of the child. Nothing should matter more than that,” said District Child Protection Officer Sameer Machingal and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) member Haris Panchili. Inaugurating a sensitisation workshop for the media at the Press Club here on Saturday, Mr. Panchili cautioned the media against infringing on the rights of children. “They are a very special group. We have to uphold their special rights at any cost,” he said.
Introducing laws that offer special rights for the children, Mr. Machingal advised the media to exercise restraint even when describing the offences committed by a child. “Never use the word arrested even if a child is apprehended for being in conflict with law,” he said.