Children's rights reporting is a new phenomenon or genre that has gain momentum in the journalism fraternity, especially in Zimbabwe and the entire world.
The rights to children is a phenomenon that can be drawn from the international human rights conventions such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948, International Covenant on civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and many others that started in the eighteenth century by developed nations. Zimbabwe as well as many other developing nations are guided by the United nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in protecting the children from abuse.
UNCRC states that people under 18 have all the rights it contains, whatever their race, religion or abilities, what ever they think or say, and whatever type of family they come from. Children are entitled to survival rights, development rights, protection rights, participation rights and so forth.
Human rights conventions both international and home made ones attempt to protect children from abuse and harassment. In developing nations there is gross invasion and violation of children's rights. Media both print and electronic do not full educate the masses on the danger of children's rights infringement.
Both a boy child and a girl child suffers from gross invasion of their rights. At times our culture, religion and tribal practises have certain socio-cultural activities that infringe children's rights. The issue of circumcision that is said to be the best to prevent HIV/Aids violate the rights for children. In some tribes like Xosa and Varemba a boy child do not graduate to manhood until he is circumcised. Circumcision should be by choice and not a must. Fear for Isolation of children who do not follow their socio-cultural traits and regarding them as outcast is violation of children's rights.
The first important model of preserving children rights is the "Values and Awareness" model. The main focus of this model is to educate and provide basic education on human rights to the masses. For example in Zimbabwe and many other developing nation the media is used to condemn the abuse of children. Zimbabwe mainstream media plays a vital role of unearthing and exposing those who abuse children.
Girl child sometimes are forced by parents to leave school at a tender age and to get married to a person out of her choice. Some fall pregnant at a very tender age and joins a polygamous marriage which again undermine their rights. The Sunday Mail in Zimbabwe have been exposing and informing the masses on such happenings.
The lacking aspect in child reporting in Zimbabwe is that children are not given platform to speak for themselves. It is salient to hear the views of the children and hear how they feel about the infringement of their rights.
Ethical values should be respecting when reporting about the abuse of children. Journalist should not write the names of the victims as well as their photos.This can make people identify the victim.
A fair coverage should be give that represent all sides. Parents should be talked to before publication of the story.In Zimbabwe some stories writes the names of children and sometime the photos of the victim. This lead to isolation of the children affected and give a negative portrayal.
The second model of reporting on the abuse of children's rights is "accountability" and this model show an understanding of human rights issues. Media through this model directly or indirectly protect the abuse of children's rights.
In addition, the model focuses on building human protection and advocacy skills as well as deepening understanding of human rights law. Training sessions for human rights activists and documenting human rights abuses are the core business of this model. In Zimbabwe there are several human rights civil society for human rights, but few that represent children's rights. The Girl Child Network is a good example of one of the non governmental organisation that represent and present the girl child.
Media in Zimbabwe have not done much to document the abuse of a children human rights. The killing of innocent children by parents after disputes and for rituals is something that media should document.
Children in Zimbabwe and other developing nations have a challenge in attending primary education. In Zimbabwe the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) is an attempt to assist children to attend early education.
Despite having BEAM to assist children to attend primary education in rural areas many children have no access to primary education. Poverty in developing nation like Zimbabwe affects full implementation of children rights.
