The Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights, Despo Michailidou, calls on the Mass Media (MME) to apply strict professional and ethical criteria in the presentation of issues concerning children.
On the occasion of the incident of a student who brought an amount of 15.000 euros to the school, which he distributed to other students and teachers, the Commissioner states that some of the publications/reports that dealt with the incident presented information that allows the identification of the school and the children who are involved. It also adds that the information and emphasis given to the ethnic origin and socio-economic status of the child involved and his family contributes to the creation of negative impressions/stereotypes and fosters racism against vulnerable groups of children.
Furthermore, he states, the publications include information obtained from the family environments of the children of the particular school, which may complicate the ongoing police investigation.
"On the occasion of the incident in question, let me remind you of my standing positions that media professionals play a huge role in informing and raising awareness of society in matters concerning minors, including that of "juvenile delinquency" and, therefore, they must apply strict professional and ethical criteria in the presentation of such matters, as determined by international bodies and codes of ethics in relation to the manner of presentation of news involving children," it says.
The Commissioner calls on media professionals in future journalistic coverage, either of the specific incident, or of any other incident involving children, "to assess the effects that this coverage will, in principle, bring about in the life of the victim and other affected persons and secondly, how the way of presentation will work as a burden on child readers/viewers".
