“Megjashi”: Political parties should spear the children02.10.2010
 

Broadcasting children’s troubles and their fates causes their relatives a great deal of pain. This also means trauma for the children who see these TV advertisements as spectators. It represents additional victimization and stigmatization of the children through the media. Mediums should refuse to broadcast paid political messages if they involve (mis)use of children in political purposes.

“Political TV advertisements must not use children as a means to reach political ends,” it is said in a deposition from the First Children’s Embassy in the World “Megjashi”.

According to them, all political parties should guarantee the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and to enforce the prevention of children’s rights violation.

An appropriate legal framework that would protect children from political (mis)use does not exist in the Republic of Macedonia.

“The provisions from the Convention on the Rights of the Child are not enough. All political parties should pay extra attention when addressing the public through paid political advertisements,” says “Megjashi”.

Political parties should take care of children’s needs and interests and include these in their pre-election platform, but they must not (mis)utilize them by including them in the TV commercials, billboards and political gatherings. The Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and therefore the children should be excluded from any political (mis)use.

Megjashi appeals to the media to refuse broadcasting paid political advertisements if they include child (mis)use in political purposes.

“We expect all political parties to guarantee the enforcement of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and to be committed to prevention of children’s rights violation.” (D.R.)

Source:

http://www.utrinski.com.mk/default.asp?ItemID=5DB692D0F9C1684CBF390B9961E2B458

English translation provided by: Dijana Janevska