IMPHAL, November 24: The Manipur Alliance for Child Rights in collaboration with the All Manipur Working Journalists Union organized a consultation workshop on Media Ethics on Reporting rape cases at the Manipur Press Club, today.
The consultation was moderated by AMWJU president A Mobi Singh.
Speaking at the consultation, MSLSA member secretary A Guneshor dwelt on “Legal provision and prohibiting publication of Rape victim’s names and particulars”, All India Radio, News Editor Dr A Ibomcha Sharma on “Media Ethics in reporting of rape cases”, while Seven Sister, special correspondent Y Ruachandra on “The disclosure issues and challenges in the reporting of the rape cases”.
Y Rupachandra said the media persons who attend such workshops need to share the discourse of the workshop with their other colleagues.
He continued the NGOs should work selflessly on the issue.
Elaborating further, he said, names of victims in such cases should also be withheld from being published at all times.
AMWJU president said the freedom that the media persons enjoy doesn’t belong to themselves, but to the public.
The media persons carry the responsibility of the freedom of expression provided by the Indian Constitution, he continued.
Media persons play an important role in the society and acts as a mirror of the society, he continued.
MACR convener, K Pradip Kumar in his key-note address said there has been a gradual increase in the number of rape cases in the state.
He continued the main objective of the workshop is to maintain the dignity, right to privacy and social status of rape case victims in her quest for justice.
He urged the media persons not to put the real names of victims while reporting rape cases as it harms the privacy of the victim.