The daily newspapers Telegraph, Kurir, Alo and Informer published on the front pages in a sensational manner the statements of the suspect Ninoslav Jovanovic, who shared details of the crime committed against the child, while Vecernje Novosti and Blic did the same in the published texts within the papers. This is not the first time that media coverage of this case has provided details of the investigation and other textual and visual contents that are against rights of the child and the best interests of the child, which must be respected in all activities concerning children, regardless whether undertaken by public or private institutions. Such reporting degrades the dignity of the victim of violence, which is not in the interest of the victim or her family, nor other victims of similar crimes, nor the public.
In this regard, we appreciate the announcement of the Ministry of Culture and Information condemning such media coverage, and we hope they will examine whether it violates the Law on Public Information and the Media, in relation to the Law on Personal Data Protection, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and timely act in accordance with their responsibilities.
At the same time, we ask the Public Prosecutor's Office to examine who provided the information from the investigation to the media, and whether there are grounds for initiating criminal and disciplinary proceedings against those officials, while the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection we ask to examine whether such media coverage violates the Law on Protection of Personal Data, in relation to the Law on Public Information and Media, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and timely act in accordance with its responsibilities.
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