N.S.M Muzzammel Huq :
In a democratic society all citizens, irrespective of age, sex, color, religion, race and ethnic distinction have right to express their views, opinions and share ideas regarding their welfare. This is their fundamental human rights. Similarly children and young people must have opportunities to express their views, advocate for their own rights, assist their peers and influence decision making on the issues that affect them. In this process they can contribute to their own protection and overall development. Children’s participation in the affairs of social evolutions and development can allow them to play an active role in fulfilling of their rights of survival, protection and development. Children and young people as citizens are the partners for bringing social change. So their participation in media and policy making process is a sine-que-non for the overall development of a nation and country.
In democracy it is increasingly felt that children should have enough access to media and also in policy making process. Children’s voice should be ensured for their own well being as well as the society. Globally, children are increasingly taking part in media and policy making decisions.
The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) clearly and justifiably recognized the necessity of child participation in their affairs. Some articles in the UNCRC directly relate children’s participation. In the Article 12 it says, ‘children’s opinions must be listened to seriously in all matters that affect their lives.’ This includes decisions made by courts and judges. It says in the Article 13, ‘children have the right to express themselves freely and to access information, subject to prevailing laws’ and in the Article 15 there it says, ‘children have the right to freedom of association, subject to prevailing laws.’
To ensure children’s participation, media can play a very vital, effective and important role. Media can treat children and their views with respect. Media can report on any steps of the government if it includes children’s views in decision making. Media can facilitate children’s participation in writing and broadcasting and arrange dialogue with the political leaders, civil society members and planners or policy makers. This can help the decision makers to take the issues of children’s welfare into their cognizance.
Generally in schools and community centers, children are often encouraged to express or speak out while the areas of wider public exposure and social interactions like in media, or as government think tanks or in community forums, the adults are seen encompassing the exclusive domain. Children conventionally have little access in reporting on child related news, stories in electronic and print media. In both media sufficient space and time is not allocated to focus on children issues while most of the children related stories are related to death and violence only. Newspaper editorials very few cover child related news. In visual media topic like education and child related stories are focused through various announcements only by the state leaders and prominent personalities.
But these days the situation regarding child participation in media and policy making has taken a new dimension in our counting. Keeping line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly the right to expression, UNICEF Bangladesh is working with the Ministry of Information to promote child participation by using different media to raise their voices on the issues that affect their lives. This approach encourages the adolescents, particularly girls to intervene in socio-economic and political structures, take control over decision making process within and outside family and community which is conventionally and exclusively preserved for male.
Program like ‘Our Voice’ (Amader Kantha) which is a part of the project ‘Advocacy and Communication for Children and Women’ implemented by the Ministry of Information with the assistance of UNICEF has given child participation in media and policy making a new dimension. The program is designed to provide children with avenues of self expression and as the means of empowering children to play a vital part in the country’s governance holding their leaders accountable. ‘Moner Katha’ (Voice of Heart) by Bangladesh Television an edutainment program through puppet show and ‘Amra Korbo Joy’ (We shall overcome)-a children’s news bulletin on child education and health child safety, child labor and sports and child mortality by another private channel have strengthen this practice in the country.
Participation of children in the media and policy making is getting much encouragement and importance day by day in the country. To share their ideas and views, it can help a lot to formulate child friendly policies and mass media can play an advocating role to make this initiative proactive with proper guidance and sensitization.
UNICEF Feature
