Expert: Minors rights violation in Armenian media mostly has ethical nature

Expert: Minors rights violation in Armenian media mostly has ethical nature

On the 18th of March World Vision international charitable organization’s Armenian branch organized a round-table discussion over «Children in media: existing problems and solution mechanisms» issue.

There were presented results of «Children’s rights preservation in Armenian media» research’s results. This monitoring was conducted by Yerevan Press Club by support of World Vision World Vision international charitable organization’s Armenian branch. Five Armenian TV Channels “H1”, “Armenia TV”, “Yerkir Media”, “Kentron” and “ATV” were chosen for the research. Programs of this channels were investigated and there were found out number of mistakes over children’s issue. Study period was June 2015.

Speakers of meeting were Zhirayr Edilyan and Aida Muradyan (world Vision Armenia), Boris Navasardyan (Yerevan Press Club), Arzuman Harutyunyan (Association of Audio-Visual Reporter), Arsen Stepanyan (Save the Children Armenia), Geghanush Gjunashjan (RAMinistry of labour and social issues affairs), Gevorg Hayrapetyan (RA Ministry of Justice), Lusine Margaryan (Human rights defender of the Republic of Armenia), Artak Shaqaryan (UNICEF Armenia), Gegham Manukyan (Yerkir Media TV). Also there were present representatives of local media companies (H1, Hetq.am, Yerkir Media, Antitrafficking.am) on a discussion.

Zhirayr Edilyan and Boris Navasardyan greeted round-table’s participants and presented aims and problems of investigation. According to speakers in Armenian media exist a number of problems such as identity and rights protection while covering children’s issues.

The study was conducted by a specially developed methodology, based on international norms of children’s rights protection, legislation of Republic of Armenia and universal ethical principles of covering children’s issues in media.

According to research’s authors investigated TV programs contains staging, which must be strictly excluded. Staging of the situations for shooting is very harmful for children, because it sharpens their emotions, and make them to feel through it again and again, which can bring to heavy mental aftermath.

During discussion episodes of controversial programs were shown. Some cases contained rude ethical violations. Research’s authors also mentioned that analyses of programs shows that most part of ethical violations is a result of a lack of information, and it’s not intentional. For gaps filling responsible parties should increase knowledge through various trainings and educational programs. There were also presented successful experience of «Association of Audio Visual reporters» NGO’s of creating information platform for journalists on a human trafficking subject.

Speakers also noted that Ethical Code book signed by 49 Armenian Media has been supplemented by new points after this research’s results, but the problem is that problematic media refuses to join the Ethical Agreement.
In the end of discussion participants concluded that problems solution is raising of responsibility of media and use of educational activities through trainings, researches, and different educational projects.

Photos of meeting are available by following link: https://goo.gl/iqH0rv