The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) and the Gambia Press Union (GPU) are collaborating to develop a Media Guide on Legal and Ethical Reporting on Child Matters in The Gambia. This initiative is part of the project "Strengthening Media Capacity on Child Rights and Ethical Reporting in The Gambia," which aims to enhance the capacity of journalists, editors, and media practitioners to report on children while protecting their rights, dignity, privacy, safety, and best interests. The project is supported by UNICEF.
A stakeholder engagement was held on September 24, 2026, at Metzy Hotel to review and provide input into the guide. The engagement brought together media practitioners and stakeholders to discuss the importance of the guide in strengthening the media's role in protecting children. GPU President Isatou Keita emphasized that journalists have a responsibility to scrutinize issues affecting children and ensure that reporting does not unintentionally expose children to further harm. She urged participants to carefully examine the proposed guide and make recommendations to ensure it responds to the realities facing journalists and children in The Gambia.
Consultant Demba Kandeh noted that the media landscape has undergone significant transformation with the rise of digital platforms and emerging technologies. He emphasized that journalists must adapt to these changes while ensuring that they use these developments responsibly and in line with professional and ethical standards. The guide is expected to serve as a practical reference for journalists and editors covering children and child-related issues, while reinforcing principles of confidentiality, privacy, dignity, protection from harm, and the best interests of the child.
The development of the guide involves a legal and policy review, stakeholder consultations, engagement with media practitioners, and lessons drawn from training workshops conducted under the project. The organisers believe that the contributions from media practitioners during the consultation will help ensure that the final guide is practical, relevant, and responsive to the realities of journalism in The Gambia. The initiative comes amid growing recognition of the media's role in shaping public understanding of children's rights and influencing how children and vulnerable groups are portrayed in society.
The Media Guide is expected to provide clear guidance on how to report sensitive issues, particularly matters involving children. It will take into account the realities of the current media environment, including the growing influence of digital platforms and emerging technologies. The guide aims to ensure that journalists have practical guidance when covering child-related issues and that they consider the consequences of their reporting on children's lives.
The project "Strengthening Media Capacity on Child Rights and Ethical Reporting in The Gambia" seeks to enhance the capacity of journalists, editors, and media practitioners to report on children in ways that protect their rights, dignity, privacy, safety, and best interests. The initiative is a collaboration between IHRDA, GPU, and UNICEF. The Media Guide is expected to be a valuable resource for journalists and editors in The Gambia.
The stakeholder engagement was a crucial step in the development of the Media Guide. It provided an opportunity for media practitioners and stakeholders to review and provide input into the document. The organisers believe that the guide will be a valuable resource for journalists and editors in The Gambia, and that it will contribute to the protection of children's rights and dignity.
Key points
- IHRDA and GPU partner to develop a Media Guide on Legal and Ethical Reporting on Child Matters in The Gambia
- The guide aims to enhance the capacity of journalists, editors, and media practitioners to report on children while protecting their rights, dignity, privacy, safety, and best interests
- The Media Guide is expected to provide clear guidance on how to report sensitive issues, particularly matters involving children
