By Nasir Shuaibu
Women journalists in Bauchi State have been urged to deepen their knowledge of child protection laws and ensure that their reports uphold the rights, dignity and welfare of children.
The call was made during a training session organised by the Bauchi State Chapter of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) on child protection and the role of the media in creating a safe environment for children.
Speaking at the event, the Chairperson, NAWOJ, Rashida Yusuf said journalists had a responsibility to ensure that their reports did not expose children to further trauma, harm, stigma or vulnerability.
She urged participants to apply the lessons from the training in their newsrooms and make child protection a key consideration in their daily reporting.
In her presentation, the Chief Magistrate of the Bauchi State Ministry of Justice, Amina Garba, stressed the importance of understanding the legal provisions governing child protection.
She said the best interests of the child must remain a primary consideration in all matters involving children.
Garba cautioned journalists against publishing information that could directly or indirectly reveal the identities of children involved in sensitive cases.
She explained that blurring a child’s face alone might not be enough if other details in the report could enable members of the community to identify the child.
The Chief Magistrate also encouraged journalists to use their platforms to raise awareness about child protection laws and educate communities on their responsibilities towards safeguarding children.
Participants were urged to familiarise themselves with child protection structures and reporting mechanisms to ensure that cases involving children were properly handled.
The training emphasised that responsible journalism could play a major role in protecting children’s rights and promoting safer communities.
Two participants, Mrs Jennifer Magawata and Beatrice Godiya, expressed satisfaction with the programme, describing it as timely and relevant to the work of journalists, particularly women journalists.
They said the training would help journalists protect children’s rights and ensure that reports involving minors complied with relevant laws and provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
They commended the organisers for equipping journalists with essential knowledge of the Child Protection Act and other laws guiding their profession.
The event brought together women journalists under the platform of NAWOJ, Bauchi State Chapter.
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