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Guyana Press Association urges media to report responsibly on Juvenile Justice
- Ramjattan stalls commencement order
GPA President, Nazima Raghubir
President of the Guyana Press Association, Nazima Raghubir, has cautioned members of the media to be responsible in their reports, especially as it relates to juvenile justice. She made these remarks at the Guyana Press Association’s Media Sensitisation programme on Juvenile Justice, yesterday, at the Marriott Hotel.
“There is a struggle with the need to protect children; for instance, against a greater urge or to gain likes on social media.”
Ms. Raghubir explained that the media should not carry headlines for sensationalism or to gain ratings but for the greater good of Guyana.
Raghubir urged media professionals to “not report in a vacuum,” and that they should attend similar workshops by civil society groups so that they may be sensitized to social issues, and develop better reporting mechanisms to protect vulnerable groups.
This workshop is one of many strategies in preparation for the commencement order on the Juvenile Justice Bill. Minister Ramjattan has not provided a date for that order.
The Juvenile Justice Bill was passed in April 2018. It repeals a number of offences, such as truancy, wandering and vagrancy. It also sets the new age for criminal liability as 14.
The Minister explained that the commencement of the Act requires the appointment of a director as a well as a board for the Juvenile Justice Committee. Also needed are temporary facilities to host the children who are on remand, and special training for social workers and psychologists to work with the Director of Juvenile Justice.
Although the Juvenile Justice Bill was signed months ago, none of this has been done.
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