20 October 2011 - In celebration of the National Children's Month this October, the Committee on the Special Protection of Children (CSPC), in partnership with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) and the Ad Standards Council (PANA, KBP, 4A's), held the symposium CHILDREN AND MEDIA: RESPONSIBLE COMMUNICATION (regulation and self-regulation).
CSPC Chairperson and DOJ Sec. Leila M. De Lima gave an overview of the State Policy and the CSPC. Before that, Bernard Joecel Forbes, better known in showbusiness as "Tolits", gave his message to the adults in behalf of the children.
CSPC Chairperson and DOJ Sec. Leila M. De Lima gave an overview of the State Policy and the CSPC. Before that, Bernard Joecel Forbes, better known in showbusiness as "Tolits", gave his message to the adults in behalf of the children.
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| RSO with DOJ Secretary Leila M. De Lima |
A lineup of impressive resource speakers made the whole-day event worth staying for until the end:
DSWD Director Patricia B. Luna provided an overview and objectives of Child Protection Laws, rules and regulations. She noted that a certain percentage of the IRA of LGUs were to be alloted to implementation of laws on child protection/abuse, and that LGUs should have youth centers for Children in Conflict with Law (CICL).
Dr. Bernadette J. Madrid of the UP-PGH Pediatrics Department discussed the impact of media on children. Top 4 concerns were:
1) violence and aggression wherein watching shows with such theme may be mistakenly perceived by the children as "what they see on TV is the norm", and that the copying behavior of humans is due to the fact that human brain have mirror cells --- brain circuits fire in the same way when observing someone doing something.
2) sex topics, "sexting", eyeballing has led to increasing number of rape cases of minors
3) obesity - the children's food preferences, choices, intake are shaped by their exposure to food and advertising
4) developmental concerns - constant exposure to TV shows/videos may lead to language delays
Dr. Bernie recommended that parents limit their children to at most 2 hours of viewing per day; and NOT in the bedroom; not to put internet access in the bedroom, either.
She also stressed the importance of early recognition of children with conduct problems, so that intervention may be given, and that age 3 is the best time to do said interventions.
Lastly, Dr. Bernie encouraged media participants to create more adverts for children about eating fruits and vegetables.
JJWC Executive Director Atty. Tricia A. Oco reiterated that under the Anti child pornography law, anybody portraying the image of a child with pornography, may be sued. Even sensationalized print report (ex. tabloid headline "so young, so murderous!") may be penalized with 8-12 years imprisonment and fined 50K and above.
Atty. Katrina Legarda lamented that the need to deliver swift information by media, prevented reflection and dissertation; she encouraged media practitioners to research first, and research well before coming out with material, especially when dealing with children. She cited the Phil. Journalists Code of Ethics. One observation is that tabloids are a problem around the world (not only here). (I agree. I personally have one perfect example of the so-called "envelopmental media.", being a victim of).
Atty. Legarda as well encouraged the audience to lobby to their congressmen the law amendment to increase the age of consent to sex --- from 12 years old to 15 or 16 years old. Currently, the law provides that the age of consent to sex is 12 years old. This meant, one can file for statutory rape only if the rape victim is below 12 yo; if age 12 and above, "the victim would have to prove that she really fought hard to stop the rape."
Atty. Anjanette Saguisag of UNICEF noted that gender-based violence would usually draw a lot of media attention. She said the "BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD" should be the guiding principle of everybody, stating that media alone has the capacity to reach the ~40million children in the Phils. at any given time.
Of interest to me during the discussion was that of Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL). A few months back, a group of minors burned a sari-sari store someplace. The perpetrators were identified but not apprehended at the onset, them being minors, according to the police. The victims, allegedly complained that for several weeks, the parents would pass by their house as if nothing happened.
The misinformation that there is nothing one can do when a minor commits a crime, according to Atty. Legarda, might have been perpetuated by some policemen not in the know. Media might have picked it up from an interview, then aired on the news, thus spreading the false information to other law enforcers, and even to social workers.
Ideally, minors positively identified to have committed a crime need to be apprehended right away and brought to the local youth center managed by a social worker. In the absence of such facility, CICL would be released to parents' custody. Parents may be made liable when their underage child commits a crime (ex. pay for damages). Parents would also undergo intervention, aside from the CICL, such as participating in effective parenting counseling.
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| Participants of Responsible Communication Forum for Children |
The event ended with commitment setting of the representatives of the various organizations present.
