The Child Safety Campaign (CSC) under the Supreme Council for Family Affairs on Sunday, August 5, launched the “Responsible Media Safe Child” initiative to help explain the importance of media in protecting the rights of children in the UAE.
Under the campaign, the CSC call the attention of different media outlets in print, audio, visual, and online to observe proper ethics when dealing with content concerning children. CSC is also calling for news outlets to observe Emirati laws and regulations regarding the potential psychological, physical, and social impact that news content might have on a child’s future, reported WAM.
His Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and wife of His Highness Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, said that the welfare of children should be in the forefront of community development.
“The well-being of children is a guarantee of the future of the whole of the UAE, and any disruption will adversely affect the nation’s human capital, obstruct its developmental agenda and the advancement of civilisation. We are all, therefore, responsible for ensuring that children are safe and cared for, whether as individuals, governments, private entities, or media professionals,” Sheikha Jawaher said.
“Media organisations play an essential and honourable role in driving our development, and in shaping the mindsets of future generations. Today, this initiative reflects the significant cooperation and joint efforts between media and childcare organisations, and the UAE’s vision that rests on the principles of integration and complementarity in all initiatives and endeavours,” she added.
The CSC has partnered with different national and local media entities to develop a charter that ensures all newspapers, TV channels, radio stations and news websites adhere to a code of publishing conduct covering child-related topics, releasing images, names, social status and other personal information.
Among its partners are the UAE Ministry of Community Development as a strategic partner; National Media Council; Emirates Association for Lawyers and Legal Consultants; UAE Journalists’ Association; Consultative Council of Sharjah; Sharjah Government Media Bureau; Sharjah Baby-Friendly Office; Sharjah Press Club; Abu Dhabi Media; Dubai Media Incorporated; and Sharjah Media Corporation, among other media corporations across the UAE and digital news platforms.
