National media guidelines drafted to protect children's privacy in news reporting

National Media Guidelines have been drawn up to protect the dignity, privacy and confidentiality of children in news reporting, the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women and Child Affairs was told.

The guidelines were presented at the Committee’s meeting in Parliament on Tuesday, 22 September, chaired by Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savitri Paulraj, the Daily Mirror reported.

They aim to protect the best interests of the child while maintaining accuracy and fairness in reporting, and to prevent the unnecessary exposure of children and their families through print, electronic and social media.

The Committee also raised the need to protect the dignity and rights of children with disabilities in media reporting.

Deputy Minister Dr. Namal Sudarshana, other deputy ministers, MPs and Ministry officials attended.

Mothers of children under five

The same meeting took up the question of mothers with children below the age of five leaving the country for foreign employment. A final decision on the issue will be taken by a technical committee, the Committee was told, the Daily Mirror reported separately.

Members also discussed a programme to reimburse educational expenses incurred for the children of women in foreign employment.

The restriction on mothers of young children migrating for work has been among the most contested elements of Sri Lanka’s labour migration rules, weighing child welfare against household income and the remittances the economy depends on. Referring it to a technical committee defers the decision rather than settling it.

Not reported

Neither report says whether the media guidelines are voluntary or enforceable, who drafted them, which regulator would apply them, or when they take effect. Neither names the technical committee’s members or gives it a deadline.