Kathmandu, Feb 6: Speakers have expressed the view that with the growing access to and use of the internet, exposure to insensitive contents related to children has increased and the situation would become worse if it is not controlled. They said not only social media, but also mainstream media are not serious on the issue of child rights and safety.
At a national workshop organised by Press Council Nepal here today, the speakers pointed out the need of effective regulation and monitoring of media and social media contents that violated the existing laws related to child rights. Similarly, the bodies and sides concerned should be responsible to address the issue through the law, they underscored.
Chairperson of Education, Health and Information Technology Committee under the House of Representatives, Bhanu Bhakta Joshi, stressed that the issue of child rights should be taken seriously in course of making laws related to communications and information technology sector.
He expressed commitment to take the issues of child rights and child safety sensitivity seriously in course of laws formulation. “I have realized how important the role of parliamentary committee is in the field of children. I express commitment to hold discussion on such issues seriously during the debate in the committee on the bill related to media,” Joshi mentioned.
It was necessary to further clarify the role of media in the sector of child rights through laws, he said, adding the Committee would pay special attention in formulating new laws and amending existing laws for the same. Similarly, Press Council Nepal Chairperson Bal Krishna Basnet pointed out that media should be responsible towards self-regulation and follow the code of ethics.
He explained that solution of negative impacts in society created by media should be sought at a time when the use of media has become mandatory. “It is necessary for media to do self-review. Let’s debate what type of communication policy and laws we need,” said Basnet, adding that it should not be kept beyond the ambit of regulation in the present situation where use of social network has become mandatory for mainstream media, though regulation of social network is challenging.
Rights activist and Professor Dr Kundan Aryal said along with the media the civil society also plays a key role on online security of children. “It is necessary for us all to understand that cyber security too is an important aspect of children’s security. The wider accessibility of internet and use of digital media is increasing this risk,” he said. As he said, the media and social organisations should raise the issue of implementation of the provisions in the existing laws to that regard. Now, not only media literacy but digital literacy is also necessary, he reiterated.
Prof Aryal also pointed out the need of extensive studies and research regarding what impact the issues raised by social networking sites and media are having on juvenile security. Executive-director of Voice of Children, Krishna Kumar Thapa, said that children are becoming insecure due to the internet. “Internet is also essential at present, but when provided to children it increases their vulnerability. The media should also raise this issue with due seriousness,” he said.
Thapa referred to news some years back that a foreigner abused children in Nepal through online and urged the security bodies to be alert on such issues. Press Council Nepal’s chief officer Jhabindra Bhusal had made a presentation on ‘media on children and child-friendly communication guidelines’ on the occasion.
Physical, mental, social and psychological abuses against children using various sorts of social media are on an increasing trend.
In several instances the mainstream media are also found insensitive on children’s rights and their privacy by indiscriminately publishing photos and disseminating videos involving children.
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