PLAN INTERNATIONAL MALAWI AND SAVE THE CHILDREN CALL FOR ETHICAL REPORTING IN CHILD RELATED ISSUES

Media Council of Malawi Executive Director Moses Kaufa has urged media practitioners to take a passionate role in eliminating child labor in the country ahead of the three-year Joint Forces for Africa project.
Speaking after a four-day Media training on child labor reporting on Friday in Mponera, Dowa, Kaufa said journalists now have been given the capacity to responsibly cover child labor issues happening in the communities.
Kaufa said child labor issues are not highly reported because of the information gap that exists even among media practitioners hence the relevance of the training.
“Children have to be protected by everyone for their improved livelihood,” Kaufa said.
He applauded Plan International Malawi and Save the Children for taking the media as a stakeholder in the JOFA project.
“Sometimes, journalists are taken as participants, and at some point, they are not called to cover events” added Kaufa.
During the official opening of the training on Tuesday, the Ministry of Labor Chief Labor Officer and Head of the Child Unit in the Ministry of Labor Francis Kwenda acknowledged the information gap that exists in addressing child labor cases in the country stressing the need to strengthen further efforts.
“According to 2015 children survey findings, the agricultural sector is a leading sector of child labor in the country,” Kwenda said.
He also said the government is lobbying for resources for a survey that will help update its database on children’s issues, a survey they are supposed to have every five years.
On his part, Plan International Malawi Lilongwe program area Manager Daniel Kapatuka described the media as a key partner in its quests to fight child labor in the country.
Kapatuka said they anticipate the practicality of action points that will see the country eliminate child labor using the media.
“We are taking the media as a stool to uncover and report on child labor cases happening at national and community levels,” added Kapatuka.
He said they have all eyes open to make sure that child labor perpetrators face the law and allow children to enjoy their rights.
YETU Community Radio understands that the training brought together editors, producers, and reporters from both national and community broadcasters.
The Joint Forces for Africa project which aims at reducing child labor will be implemented in Areas of Traditional Authorities Chimutu, Njewa in Lilongwe, and Traditional Authorities of Vuso Jere and Kalumo in Ntchisi.
The three-year project is funded by the European Union and is being implemented by Plan International Malawi and Save the Children.