Police urge media to respect children’s dignity

Police on Thursday called on media outlets to refrain from publishing information or images that compromise the dignity and safety of children.

The appeal comes in light of concerns that certain media practices are in violation of child protection laws and pose significant risks to children’s well-being.

In a press release, the police emphasised that the Children's Rights Protection Act explicitly prohibits the disclosure of personal information about children in a manner that undermines their dignity. However, some media outlets continue to publish photos and information about children, disregarding this critical legal and ethical guideline.

The statement highlighted that such practices fail to safeguard the best interests of children and could place them in vulnerable situations. Sharing photos of children, particularly on social media platforms, was singled out as a potentially harmful act that could have lasting negative effects on their mental and physical health.

Additionally, the police warned that exposing children’s personal information increases their likelihood of being subjected to various forms of abuse, including cyberbullying, exploitation, and other threats.

“In this context, the media and the public are urged to pay special attention to the dignity and safety of children when disclosing information, Do not publish photos and other personal information of children on social media and other media outlets," the police statement read.