UNICEF Urges Ethical Reporting on Children's Issues

On Thursday, UNICEF's child rights experts called on journalists to practice ethical reporting that shields children's identities and emphasizes solutions during a two-day training workshop in Port Harcourt. The workshop gathered editors, correspondents, and media practitioners from nine states to align reporting with Nigeria's legal obligations regarding children's rights.

Sussan Akila, UNICEF Nigeria Communications Specialist, stressed the need for journalists to prioritize children's dignity and safety, particularly in cases of abuse, warning that poor coverage could lead to stigmatization and long-term harm. Dr Geoffrey Njoku discussed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Child Rights Act 2003, highlighting that a child is defined as anyone under 18.

Dr. Jide Johnson presented data from the 2022 Child Labour Survey, indicating that 50.5% of children are engaged in economic activities, with significant numbers in child labor and hazardous work. The speakers emphasized ethical reporting practices, including anonymizing details and focusing on systemic issues, to protect children facing insecurity, poverty, and stigma.