Media guidelines for Disaster Reporting Part 5

By Malini Shankar Digital Discourse Foundation

Plan India Child Protection Policy for Media:

Introduction:

Plan is a child centered community development organization and exists to support children, their families and communities in their development efforts. Plan’s works therefore often mean that adults are in direct contact with children. Thus we have policies and systems so that abuse is not perpetrated or compounded by anyone that interacts with children via Plan. These measures also protect visitors form actions that could be misconstrued and lead to false accusations. Plan India considers child abuse unacceptable in all circumstances and is committed to ensuring that all possible and necessary steps are taken to protect the rights of children and ensure the well-being of all children.

Visits to communities are great opportunities to see and introduce development works. However, this may pose risks towards the children Plan is supporting. Therefore, Plan India formed the child protection policy in order to keep our children safe but at the same time help both supporters and children enjoy this wonderful moment.

What is child abuse?

Child abuse occurs when a child experience harm, usually as the result of failure on the part of the parent or carer to ensure a reasonable standard of care and protection. Child abuse can be physical, emotional, and/ or sex. Abuse can also include neglect, exploitation and harassing behaviour like bullying.

What is Child Protection?

Child protection involves keeping children safe from the risk of harm caused by sexual, physical, emotional abuse, exploitation or neglect.

How Plan works to Protect Children?

The UN Convention on the rights of the Child is universally identified as the basis for child protection. The Convention establishes a universal duty of care that is owed to children and young people. Plan’s child protection policy makes it clear that all children have equal rights to protection. The Protection of children can be achieved by providing a safe, open and honest environment that protects children as well as the people working with children.

Communication and Child protection

Media communication is a wonderful opportunity to share Plan India’s work. To protect both

good-intentioned journalists and children, journalists should inform Plan India in advance before interviewing children. Visitors should not exchange contact details with any children while visiting.

Responsible Behaviour

This behaviour protocol is designed to protect children but also intended to minimize the risk that visitors from incorrectly accused of inappropriate behaviour or abuse.

Child Protection Statement

I will:

· NEVER request a spontaneous visit via the Plan India office to any child;

· NEVER use language, make suggestion or offer advice that is inappropriate, offensive or

abusive;

· NEVER behave physically in a manner which is inappropriate or sexually provocative;

· NEVER do things for children of a personal nature that they can do for themselves;

· NEVER condone, or participate in, behaviour of children which is illegal, unsafe or abusive;

· NEVER act in ways intended to shame, humiliate, belittle or degrade children, or otherwise

perpetrate any form of emotional abuse;

· NEVER discriminate against, show differential treatment, or favours particular children to

the exclusion of others;

· NEVER develop physical/sexual relationships with any child and/or children;

· NEVER develop relationships with children that could in any way be deemed exploitative

or abusive.

· NEVER spend time alone with children away from others;

· NEVER fondle, hold, kiss, hug or touch children in a culturally insensitive way;

· NEVER remove a child from their community (even if they have consented);

· NEVER exchange personal contract details with children, their family or other community

members.

· NEVER offer for children to visit my residence and/or my country;

· NEVER introduce other visitors to the community without receiving prior clearance for

their presence;

· NEVER return to the community without going through the standard visit procedures with

Plan staff;

Note: It is important to note that where possible and practical, at least two adults, preferably including a female and male, must supervise all activates where children are involved and are present at all times. If this is not possible, staff and volunteers are encouraged to look for alternatives such as being accompanied by community members on visits to children.

All Plan’s staff and community are trained on Child Protection. So visiting journalists should check with Plan staff in any situation where they are uncertain of what behaviour is appropriate or if they want to report a concern.

Related to photos/videos and other image, I will always:

Obtain the consent of the child and his/her parents or guardians before taking any

photographs;

· Take and use photographs and image of children that are dignified and respectful and that do not present them as victims. Image will not depict children in a vulnerable or submissive suggestive;

· Ensure that children should be adequately clothed in photographs and not in poses that could be misinterpreted as sexually suggestive;

· Protect the safety and privacy of children and their families by not using their full names, not using their images on the internet without explicit consent, and not using them in any way in which their location could be identified or their confidentiality or dignity could be breached.;

· Not use the photographs I take of children and Plan assisted communities to benefit

financially. The photographs I take during my visit will be used for media purposes as a journalist.

To ensure children’s privacy is protected, I will send the articles I wrote and/or photos I took concerning of Plan and the children to Plan India’s PR team for confirmation before it/they is/are released. Otherwise, I will take the full responsibility if any information was accused of being reported wrongly and Plan India holds the right to apply to the court.

Signatures from media / Plan staff/ Plan Partner staff

I say NO to child abuse. I have read, understood and will abide by the child protection policy.

Media Visitor: Name & Publication -------------------------------------------------------------

Signature---------------------------------

Country / State--------------------------------- Date---------------------------------

Plan staff :( A Plan staff should sign jointly so he or she acknowledges that the media has signed

the policy.)

Signature---------------------------------

Office--------------------------------- Date---------------------------------

Plan Partner: (Plan partner staff will be responsible to ensure that children, parents or guardian

should read the document and sign). The partner should send a hard or electronic copy of the

visitor to the Plan ICO.

Signature----------------------------

Office--------------------------------- Date------------------------------------

Part 1

Consent form

For Plan India’s partner organization

I, as the representative of the organization acknowledge the responsibility as the partner with Plan India to facilitate the visit of media representatives to interview children, children’s parents/guardians, villagers and employees of this organization who participate in our interventions as agreed in the project agreement signed between Plan India and partner organization.

I acknowledge as the representative the responsibility to explain to the involved people mentioned above the purposes, approaches and procedures to be used. By the end of my explanation, the participants understand that the information from this interaction may be used for publicity purposes in national and international newspapers, books, web sites and/or on radio and television stations. They should understand that during the interview, Plan India’s officer(s) may use recorders, camera and video camera. During the interview, participants should be aware

that they have the rights to stop the interview any time when they feel uncomfortable; to insist on anonymity; to see the information derived from the interview before it appears in public; and to have copies of the final materials which may be used for the public.

By this agreement, I as the representative of the organization confirm the confidentiality of the information, which includes quotes, photography, film and other materials derived from the interviews and activities. This information should not be used or shared with any third person/party without the consent from each individual participant and from Plan India.

I confirm that I will facilitate the process so that Plan India can obtain real information on our interventions for the benefit of children.

I believe the information given to be correct to the best of my knowledge.

Name of Organization--------------------------------------------------

Name & Signature of the Representative ------------------------------------

Date:-----------------------------

Part 2

Consent form for children

Please tick on the symbols

A media visitor/ visitors from Plan India come to talk with me, I feel To talk with them.

They will ask me about my life and my ideas, I feel To tell them about things.

They will spend time as much as two to three hours talking with me, I feel To spend

time talking with them.

If it is too long for me, I might ask to go playing with friends or have a res

take a break.

They will record my conversation on tape recorder and cameras, I feel

To have my face on books and Television [OK] [Not OK]

Part 3

Consent Form For parent/ guardian on the child’s interview

I give permission for my child/ children to be interviewed by media visitors from Plan India about the child’s life.

I have received a full explanation from Plan India of what this interview means and the

responsibilities of participation.

I grant permission to Plan India to interview, photograph and/or film my child and to use the information, photographs and films for the purpose of publicity, for example, in the organizational reports, books, national and international newspapers, websites, radios and televisions.

I understand that if at any time I am not happy with my child being interviewed or with resulting publicity, I may withdraw my child from the interview or request the withdrawal of future appearances on any publicity materials after my change of decision.

I certify that I am the parent or guardian of the child:

Name of child ----------------------------------------------------

Name & Signature of parent/ guardian --------------------------------------------

Signature of Partner Representative---------------------------

Date--------------------------------------------------------------------

http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2000/fnov2000/f161120001.html

http://apps.searo.who.int/PDS_DOCS/B4998.pdf

http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2000/fnov2000/f161120001.html

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Volcano-like-eruption-in-Himachal-Pradesh/articleshow/36116427.cms

http://civildefence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/publications/TV-MoU-Dec06.pdf

http://civildefence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/publications/Radio-MoU-october-2013.pdf

Reporting Disaster and Disaster Preparedness: A Training Handbook.pdf published by Deutsche