As part of efforts aimed at telling authentic stories of Child Domestic Work (CDW), members of Street Project Foundation (SPF), in partnership with CeCe Yara Child Advocacy Centre, recently launched a media alliance where ethical reporting and data are taken into cognisance.

The founder of SPF, Rita Ezenwa-Okoro, described the ethical media reporting manual as a tool to help save a child and shape culture.

To media professionals, she urged them to “have the power to make the invisible visible, to hold the powerful accountable, to change laws and protect the most vulnerable children in our society.”

In her welcome remarks at the unveiling, Chief Operating Officer, SPF, Eduvielawhe Olutimayin, noted that the medihas power and should serve as agent of change. However, she noted the gate keeper and agenda setting power without direction is just noise.

Olutimayin added that, “every news story on CDW must end with a question answered — not only ‘What happened?’ but “What should we do about it?” Use that power carefully. Use it truthfully. Use it with children’s dignity and their future at the centre of every decision.’

Olutimayin also acknowledged partners and survivors.

On his part, Head of Programmes, CeCe Yara Child Advocacy Centre, Damilola Adenusi, noted that CDW is widespread but largely hidden because it takes place inside private homes.

Saying many CDWs face excessive working hours, interrupted education, isolation and different forms of abuse and exploitation, he added the media determines how the public understands the issue.

To him, “social responsibility reporting can expose hidden exploitation, influence attitudes, drive policy action and encourage intervention. Poor reporting, however, can identify a child, retraumatise them, sensationalise abuse or reinforce harmful stereotypes.’

The consultative workshop sponsored by the Freedom Fund a gift of the US Department of State, brought together media practitioners and child-protection stakeholders, survivors, frontliners and others to examine how child domestic work is currently reported and what needs to change.

A major outcome was the need for practical guidance on interviewing children, protecting identities, using appropriate language and images, avoiding sensationalism, obtaining informed consent and ensuring that storytelling does not expose children to further harm.

The Ethical Reporting Guidelines were developed as a practical tool to translate those workshop conversations into everyday media practice.

Civil service organisations that were present at the Ethical Media Reporting Manual launch include, Freedom Fund Nigeria, Devatop, Devatop, CAPRIGHTS-VP, Slum2 School, Hearts and Hands Humanitarian Foundation (3HF), MAEJT, Nigeria for the Welfare of Children and Youth, among others.