AKP Phnom Penh, May 26, 2025 -- 

Five child rights organisations have conducted last week a specialised training workshop for journalists and editors on safeguarding principles and child-sensitive reporting with an aim to better protect children and vulnerable communities.

According to a recent press release of UNICEF Cambodia, while guidelines for ethical and child-sensitive reporting exist, many journalists may not be fully familiar with safeguarding principles, especially when covering complex and sensitive topics involving children, adolescents, and vulnerable communities. Enhancing their capacities and awareness of these practices is essential to ensure that media coverage upholds the dignity and rights of children and adults.

This is especially important in stories concerning violence, exploitation, conflict with the law, or social stigma. By prioritising the children’s best interests in their reporting, the media can prevent unintended harm and cultivate greater trust, empathy, and understanding within society.

“The media plays a crucial role in raising public awareness and shaping public perception, and with that comes great responsibility. When reporting on children, youth, and vulnerable individuals, we must ensure that their safety, dignity, and rights are never compromised or violated. Their best interests should not merely be considered, but must serve as the guiding principle in every story, to shift public perception and drive meaningful change,” said Yi Kimthan, Interim Country Director of Plan International Cambodia, on behalf of the child rights organisations – Care International, Plan International Cambodia, Save the Children in Cambodia, UNICEF Cambodia, and World Vision International in Cambodia.

This training workshop seeks to strengthen ethical reporting and foster a deeper understanding of children's issues, with a particular focus on those impacting girls and young women. Journalists are equipped with tools and knowledge to report in a manner that respects the rights, dignity, and privacy of all individuals, especially those most at risk.

This initiative represents a step towards establishing a media environment in Cambodia where children’s rights are protected and promoted, rather than jeopardized, underlined the press release, urging all media professionals to join the child rights organisations in building a more responsible, inclusive, and child-sensitive press.

By Phal Sophanith (Photo: UNICEF)