Posting photos of traumatised kids worries MCPCR
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 27 2024: The Khelen Thokchom Trust, Manipur observed the 64th birth anniversary of late journalist Khelen Thokchom along with inauguration of a two-day media workshop at Manipur Press Club here on Sunday.

Sponsored by Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR), the programme was attended by MCPCR chairperson Keisham Pradipkumar, All Manipur Working Journalists' Union president Bijoy Kakchingtabam, Thokchom Khelen Trust advisor Irengbam Arun and founder Thokchom Memcha Devi as presidium members.

Speaking on the occasion, Pradipkumar observed that use of emotional and traumatic moments of children affected by the conflict to build momentum for help and financial support on social media platforms.

While it might have been done with pure and good intentions, the overall strategy has turned into an attitude of gaining a sense of moral superiority through charities.

In the context of child rights, this is re-victimising the children and exploiting them for sympathy points under the guise of protecting them, said the chairperson.

He continued that as children are growing, developing human beings, there are some terms which cannot be used when reporting news related to children.

One such word is "orphan", which affects the children, he conveyed.

Pradipkumar continued that children were regarded as a group needing protection and care after UNCRC came into being.

He said a child should be able to express as per his age, and only then, it can be said that right care has been provided.

He further observed that the first narrative shows the children being considered as charity, while the second depicts them as becoming the social actions themselves.

It would be best to change the assumption that children do not have any rights when it comes to social media and should follow the instructions of the adult.

Social media has a huge impact and the above approach is not right in any sense, he contended.

Pradipkumar also observed that there is low rate of discussion with regard to child rights, especially when it comes to conflict situations.

While the society may seem relatively peaceful at the moment, the displaced children are still trying to overcome their trauma.

It is hard to treat depression in children and the impact is often long-term.

Thus, there is a need for Psycho social caring in consultation with experts, he stressed.

The first technical session of the workshop was held on "Protection of child rights in conflict" and moderated by Trust advisor Irengbam Arun.

Advocate Thiyam Rajakishore and journalist Leivon Jimmy Lamkang spoke as resource persons.

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