Report Media for Children1.pdf - AIBD

most children in Asia have the advantage
of growing up in a socially and culturally
diverse environment, in some places the
richness of this experience is increasingly
endangered by attempts by different
groups in different places to establish
social and cultural hegemony.
There is also a tendency in Asian societies
and families to view children solely as
adjuncts, with little or no individual
identity, let alone special requirements,
interests and concerns beyond basic needs
and some amount of pampering (which
each family attempts to provide in
accordance with its socio-economic
capacity). In addition, a sizeable section of
the Asian child population faces a wide
range of problems, ranging from poverty
and conflict to discrimination and abuse.
These and other realities often result in the
curtailment of many of the fundamental
human rights to which children are
entitled. Of special relevance in the
context of media for, by and about
children, is the fact that this situation also
tends to curb their ability to freely express
themselves and give full rein to their
creative potential. Under the
circumstances, it is clear that there is an
urgent need to step up multi-pronged
efforts to harness the tremendous positive
potential of the media to serve the interests
of Asian children.
The day-long meeting on 28 May brought
together over 67 participants from 17
countries with evident interest in exploring
the challenges and successes of producing
quality children’s media in the Asia-
Pacific region. Among them were media
professionals, researchers and activists, as
well as children’s rights advocates, who
had come to the meeting expecting to share
knowledge, observations and experiences,
to learn from each other, and to figure out
ways of working – collectively and
separately -- towards a better media world
for children.