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have important and significant data <strong>to</strong> substantiate <strong>the</strong>ir f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs. As well, <strong>the</strong> way as<strong>to</strong>ry is projected by a journalist is dependent on how <strong>the</strong> reporter wants <strong>to</strong> represent <strong>the</strong>situation. Dangers of travel, biases and censorship, all of which may prevent reporters fromdisclos<strong>in</strong>g certa<strong>in</strong> facts, can <strong>to</strong>o affect <strong>the</strong> way a s<strong>to</strong>ry is <strong>to</strong>ld. 305The International Federation of Journalists, <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> non-governmentalorganisation Press Wise held a meet<strong>in</strong>g entitled “Tourism and <strong>Child</strong> Abuse: TheChallenges <strong>to</strong> Media and Industry”. At that ga<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g, media acknowledged that <strong>the</strong>ycould be much more visible <strong>in</strong> improv<strong>in</strong>g protections for CSEC. One of <strong>the</strong> plenaries’conclud<strong>in</strong>g observations was that, “media must....report fairly, honestly and accurately on<strong>the</strong> experience of childhood”. 306 Recommendations from <strong>the</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>in</strong>creasedtra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, heightened professionalism, codes of conduct and broaden<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> debate ofrelevant issues. 307In May 1998, <strong>the</strong> International Federation of Journalists drafted an <strong>in</strong>ternational guidel<strong>in</strong>efor journalists cover<strong>in</strong>g children’s rights. In 2001, <strong>the</strong>se guidel<strong>in</strong>es were adopted at <strong>the</strong>Annual Congress of <strong>the</strong> International Federation of Journalists <strong>in</strong> Seoul, Korea and werelater presented at <strong>the</strong> Second World Congress. Although <strong>the</strong> guidel<strong>in</strong>es are a positive start,<strong>the</strong>y do not guarantee that journalists will report ethically; <strong>the</strong>y challenge journalists ando<strong>the</strong>r media sec<strong>to</strong>rs “<strong>to</strong> be aware of <strong>the</strong>ir responsibilities” when report<strong>in</strong>g about children. 308The journalism <strong>in</strong>dustry is a self-regulat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustry and often it is <strong>the</strong> case that only gravebreaches of <strong>the</strong>ir regulations are <strong>in</strong>vestigated, while less severe breaches go unsanctioned.Ano<strong>the</strong>r significant weakness with <strong>the</strong> journalism code is <strong>the</strong> language that uses subjectiveterm<strong>in</strong>ology, such as “good taste”, “bad taste”, and “decency”. 309Though most journalists are required <strong>to</strong> follow some form of <strong>in</strong>ternal regulation, oftenestablished by <strong>the</strong>ir union, association or employer, many do not know <strong>the</strong> details of <strong>the</strong>se<strong>document</strong>s and a general understand<strong>in</strong>g may not be enough. A recent case demonstratesconcerns over adequate tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry. Pho<strong>to</strong>journalists work<strong>in</strong>g with an<strong>in</strong>ternational NGO <strong>to</strong>ok pictures of cry<strong>in</strong>g children at a refugee camp. Eventually it wasrevealed that <strong>the</strong> children were weep<strong>in</strong>g because <strong>the</strong>y thought that <strong>the</strong> pho<strong>to</strong>graphers weresoldiers hold<strong>in</strong>g weapons try<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> kill <strong>the</strong>m. 310Although <strong>the</strong> role played by journalists <strong>to</strong>wards <strong>the</strong> elim<strong>in</strong>ation of CSEC may currentlybe <strong>in</strong>adequate, a number of <strong>in</strong>itiatives have been taken by regional <strong>in</strong>ter-governmentalagencies. The European Parliament, <strong>in</strong> implement<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> European Strategy for <strong>Child</strong>ren,has committed <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>crease “public awareness of <strong>the</strong> social, environmental and technologicalchallenges for children <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir everyday lives”. 311 S<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong>n, an ‘anti-CSEC advertis<strong>in</strong>gclimate’ has been adopted <strong>in</strong> parts of Europe <strong>in</strong> an attempt <strong>to</strong> create child-friendlyPrivate Sec<strong>to</strong>r Accountability <strong>in</strong> Combat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Commercial Sexual Exploitation of <strong>Child</strong>ren|77

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