|
NEW DELHI: A study on child abuse conducted by the Women
and Child Development Ministry has reiterated the necessity
of avoiding disclosure in the media of the name of a child
who is victim of abuse to prevent trauma or re-victimization.
The study, which reveals that almost every second child in
the country is being subjected to some kind of emotional or
sexual abuse, has also recommended to the Information and
Broadcasting Ministry and media self-regulatory authorities
should take necessary action to develop ethical standards
for the media and implement them.
The researchers have said that while media coverage of child
protection issues was desirable, it is essential that the
coverage is done in such a way that it prescribes to high
ethical standards of reporting, such as avoiding disclosure
of the identity of the child victim. It is also essential
to obtain informed consent of the child in cases of reporting.
All these measures will protect the child from the stigma
attached to the abuse and prevent sensationalization of the
issue, the study says.
At the same time, the study points out that the media should
be used to spread awareness on child rights. Debates and discussions
with participation of children can be a regular feature on
the electronic media in order to enhance people’s knowledge
and sensitivity on child protection issues.
The study has also prescribed Ethical Guidelines for research
which clearly state that children should only be interviewed
in the presence of a friend or in groups. At the same time,
children who have been victims of abuse should not be repeatedly
interviewed by journalists, researchers, police, medical staff,
psychologists etc.
The report also says that children should not be asked leading
questions and has given a list of typical questions that journalists
or researchers generally ask, pointing out the proper manner
of phrasing these questions to cause the least trauma to the
children.
The voluminous report released by Women and Child Development
Minister Renuka Chowdhury reveals that two out of every three
children were physically abused, and 53.22 per cent of the
children interviewed for the study reported having faces some
kind of sexual abuse.
Every second child reported facing emotional abuse and 48.4
per cent of the girls wished they were boys. About 65 per
cent of the children reported corporal punishment, 62 per
cent in municipal or government schools. More than half the
children reported they had been forced to work seven days
a week.
A total of 12,447 children, 2324 young adults and 2449 stakeholders
were interviewed in thirteen sample states for the study,
conducted by a team headed by Dr Loveleen Kacker, Joint Secretary
(Child Welfare) under the overall jurisdiction of Ministry
secretary Deepa Jain Singh.
| 
