NAWOJ Trains Women Journalists on Child Protection Law
By, Aliyu Adamu Faggo:
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ, Bauchi State Chapter, has organized a one-day training workshop to equip women journalists with skills to effectively report issues concerning child protection and abuse.
Speaking at the training held at the State Correspondent Office, insurance house Bauchi, NAWOJ Chairperson, Hajiya Rashida Yusuf, said the workshop was aimed at helping female journalists understand the Child Protection Law and apply its provisions in their daily reportage.
She urged the journalists to put the knowledge acquired into practice, stressing that the media has an important role to play in protecting children, safeguarding their dignity and creating public awareness about their rights.
Also speaking, a Magistrate of the Bauchi State Judiciary, Amin Garba Ahmed, said the training was designed to build journalists’ capacity on the Child Protection Law and their role in monitoring its implementation.
She noted that journalists sometimes make mistakes when reporting child-related cases, particularly by failing to consider the best interests of the child as required by the law.
The Magistrate advised journalists to protect children’s privacy by avoiding the publication of their names, photographs and addresses, especially when reporting cases involving children below 15 years.
She said the law also protects children’s rights to health and education and addresses issues including abduction, trafficking, exploitation, street hawking and begging.
The Magistrate encouraged journalists to report such cases sensitively without stigmatizing the children.
Amin Garba Ahmed cautioned women journalist to always verify facts before publishing stories involving children, urging them to familiarize themselves with the law to ensure accurate, responsible and child-sensitive reportage.
