“Sick and disgusted” …CPA slams Guyana Times’ report on rape victim

DIRECTOR of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), Ann Greene, is outraged by the violation of the rights of a minor in recent editions of two local newspapers, particularly as it relates to the loss of the child’s anonymity in reporting a complaint.The Guyana Times published the name and photograph of the child and the details of the case, stating that the child is a witness. This information should not have been included.

“This is not victim protection. This is a violation of the statute. We have to protect the victims,” a livid Mrs. Greene stated on Monday.
The other newspaper that erred was the Kaieteur News.

While media outfits have been given the proverbial ‘slap on the wrist’ for a variety of violations against children in the past, Mrs. Greene says she has reached her saturation point this time.
“We have to apply sanctions” in a bid to force media houses to comply with local regulations, Mrs. Greene said.

She promised that the CPA “will be going after these media houses…to stop the abuse and exploitation of (minor) victims.”

Reiterating how “fed up and disgusted” she and the CPA have become with the media’s continued assault on children’s rights, Mrs. Greene called on the media corps to stop the ‘roughing-up’ of children.
Children are being “bullied by the (local) newspapers, and this has to stop. We can’t stay silent and let this continue,” the CPA head said.

The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has stopped short of outright condemnation of the violation on Monday. In a press release, the GPA reminded the media of the continued need to “practise ethical and responsible journalism at all times, but particularly in the reporting of cases involving minors.”

The umbrella media body said the publication of the name and photograph of the child is not only unethical, “but it also appears to be in breach of the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act, which prohibits the identification of a rape victim.”

In particular, Section 62 (1) of the Act states: “The publication in any document, or the broadcasting or transmission in any way of any information that could identify the complainant or witness to an offence under this Act is prohibited.”

Section 62 (3) also states, “Every person who publishes in any document, or broadcasts or transmits in any way any information that could identify the complainant or a witness, contrary to subsection (1), commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of two million dollars.”

The GPA wants media houses to recall that “the freedom to report comes with responsibility to rigorously adhere to voluntary standards and ethical practices, while also upholding the fundamental standards of accuracy, fairness and balance.”

The GPA is reminding “editors and media owners of the important role they need to play in on-the-job training and education of their employees, especially the younger reporters who are now dipping their toes in the profession.”