International Conference on War-Affected Childern

What is working?

· Information is being made available via the internet to the international community about the violation of human rights
· More attention is being given to children's issues and concerns.

· People are becoming more concerned about issues.

There are some media who are relaying the important issues and information (i.e. the Arabic Media).

What isn't working?

· Sensationalism (exaggerating the issues)

· The media does not always disclose all the facts due to political agendas, and monetary support.

· Child to child media programs are rare.

· There is no international organisation to uphold and monitor media standards.

Media is too particular with which stories they will report or not report and the details therein.

Recommendations

· Media content should be regulated to ensure that international issues are more likely to be reported.

· Media led by youth should be created and supported in conflict situations and that information should be broadcast throughout the world.

· Media should remain impartial in reporting on issues.

· Information should be readily available to all citizens of countries so that they are aware of what is going on in their nation.

· Governments should not be allowed to censor the media.

· Reports on conflicts should be better researched and not far-fetched.

· The media should not give out information that may endanger the security or safety of youth; the safety of the youth needs to come first, not the stories.

· Less restrictions should be placed on media reporting about youth issues in war affected countries.

· More attention should be placed on children in war-affected countries.

What youth can do?

· Letters to editors, to radio stations (i.e. talk radio), television stations, etc. to make the media know that we want to hear about these issues!

· Youth should endeavour to make the issues known in their own country and around the world (i.e. through youth media organizations)

· Encourage major media organizations to have a youth reporter/youth voice represented in their reporting.

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