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06 May 2018
5 May 2018 <br />
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Amman- The participants in a seminar held at the Jordan Media Institute (JMI) under the title "Role of Media in Preventing Cyber Violence Against Children" have called on the media to help the Public Security in raising awareness about various aspects of crimes of assaults on children.<br />
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Captain Mohammed Hazaimeh, assistant chief of the Division of Sexually Exploited Children Online, said that the division was created around two years ago and that it needs media support to raise community awareness. He said: "The division handles reported cases only; many other cases are not included in statistics. People do not report such cases due to traditions and social beliefs." He did not provide any figures on assaults in general.<br />
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Researcher Dr. Nasser Rahamneh urged the media to assume its true responsibility by further highlighting assault cases, especially by raising awareness before the crime occurs. This can be done through specialized press reports, programs, and interviews. Also, there should be focus on developing our habits to be more responsive to the exploitation or assaults on children we see today.<br />
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A study has estimated that coverage of news related to children does not exceed 13%. Rahamneh said that this is a modest percentage and does not reflect the ambition to create awareness against exploiting or assaulting children. He indicated that "some media outlets have somewhat contributed, without intending, to offending some of the victims. This is due to lack of experience in covering such news and the pictures and videos involved in this coverage."<br />
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On the initiative Madrasati (My School) and Masahati (My Space) to reduce school violence, Tala Sweiss, head of the initiative, said that a slogan was launched that "I vow to support and encourage fellow students despite our differences and to help others in time of need" so that students can express themselves in nontraditional ways and feel their presence. This will also enable them to build healthy relations with their peers. The initiative focuses on interactive methods and involving local communities and the families of students in these activities. She also spoke about the community initiative launched by artist Aziz Maraqa in collaboration with Madrasati to conduct a number of tours of public schools to help reduce bullying.<br />
Sweiss added that direct and physical bullying is most common, but that psychological and verbal bullying, especially in the case of girls, is much more than that. It is hard to measure because abuse, violence, and bullying overlap. She added that the bully is also a victim and that we have to handle him well before holding him solely responsible.<br />
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Regarding the measures taken by Family Protection to protect children, Hazaimeh said that "we take the statement of the child only once in a specially prepared room with cameras to avoid a repeat of the child's testimony in front of a judge or public prosecutor." He called for "warning children against posting everything that happens with them in the home on social media. The predator takes advantage of this information to lure the child and then blackmail and assault him."<br />
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In a discussion with the participants, Aroub Soubh, a media person, noted that there must be a distinct number for reporting abuse against women and children, and not through 911. Also, procedures for taking statements should be easy and simple, especially for a person who has been sexually assaulted. Specialists should be recruited for this purpose.<br />
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The seminar, moderated by Bayan Tal, adviser at JMI, is part of other workshops and seminars within the project "Enhancing Quality of Press Coverage of Child Rights and Protection From Violence in Jordan" implemented by the JMI in collaboration with UNICEF.<br />
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