The Press Council of Moldova addressed a public call to the Ombudswoman for Children Rights Maia Bănărescu and the chairman of the Audiovisual Council Dargoș Vicol, asking them to intervene to discourage and penalize the violations of children’s rights committed in the talk show “Moldova Speaks” that is broadcast by Prime TV channel. A decision to this effect was taken in the April 26 meeting of the Council, IPN reports.
In a press release, the Press Council said the given TV channel on April 15 and 16 broadcast an edition of the given talk show entitled “Priest, I love you!” at prime time. The program was about a girl now aged 14 who had been sexually abused by her stepfather, a priest, starting at the age of 11. The producers of the edition committed serous deviations from the deontological and legal norms, especially by not protecting the identity of the abused girl. Even if her name was hidden, she could be easily identified after her parents and her grandmother appeared in the studio.
The Council members noted the law on the protection of children against the negative impact of information was violated as the goal in this case was not to safeguard the child’s interests or to broadcast information of public interest, but to provide sensational details about the private life of persons, which simply satisfy the curiosity of individuals and generate audience, affecting the dignity of the featured persons.
The Council reminds that the law bans broadcasting interviews and statements where children are asked to state their opinions about intimate family problems or problems that are beyond their power of judgment. It is also banned showing children younger than 16, who are victims or witnesses of physical, mental or sexual abuse, in audiovisual programs.
The Council members noted the Code of Audiovisual Media Services of Moldova obliges the producers of media services to respect the principle of the superior interest of the child and stipulates that the minors have the right to the protection of their private life. Also, the minors in audiovisual programs cannot be used or presented by parents, relatives, legal representatives, lawyers or other persons responsible for their development for obtaining advantages of any kind or for influencing decisions taken by the public authorities.
The Press Council considers the presentation of such cases of abuse against children cause damage to the featured persons and the public, perpetuate practices that lead to the creation of media byproducts and, in general, lead to the degradation of the national media space. It requested the Ombudswoman for Children’s Rights and the Audiovisual Council to make use of the available instruments and to penalize the violations committed by Prime TV in this program and to discourage the production of such programs that contribute not to the development of society, but to backsliding.
