City Press and photographer Khaya Ngwenya have been awarded a MAD OAT Glad nomination for the photograph of young girls who are former sex workers (City Press, 22/02/09, p. 38). The photograph creatively depicts child abuse and exploitation in a way that protects children from further harm.

The photograph is part of a feature “Teen girl world is terrifying”, and accompanies an article from Parent24.com which looks at what it is like for adolescents growing up and what makes them vulnerable. It is the photograph itself which is commendable, and which could stand on its own.

The photograph is cleverly shot, from the ground, so that it includes images of the young girls without their heads appearing. This makes it possible to see that the photograph is of the young girls, but not to identity who they are.

Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) advocates, “As a general rule, do not name or identify a child offender, or a child who is a victim of abuse or other crime, unless circumstances mean that it is clearly in the child’s best interests to do so” (UNICEF and Media Monitoring Project, 2003, p. 15¹).

This is line with legal and ethical principles, clearly specified in Acts like the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007 and the Criminal Procedure Act No.51 of 1977, as well as Guidelines developed by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

UNICEF Guidelines specify “Always change the name and obscure the visual identity of any child who is identified as: a victim of sexual abuse and exploitation”  (UNICEF, ²) and “Do not further stigmatise any child; avoid categorizations or descriptions that expose a child to negative reprisals…” (UNICEF, Date Unknown³).

By protecting the children’s identities, the photographer shows respect for the young girls’ rights to privacy and dignity, and helps to ensure that they are protected from further harm and possible stigmatisation.

Make Abuse Disappear Online Accountability Tool (MAD OAT) has previously highlighted different and imaginative ways in which photographers can show child abuse and exploitation in ways that do not further harm or stigmatise children. This is another good example. Congratulations Khaya and we look forward to seeing similar work of this standard.

Footnotes

¹ UNICEF and Media Monitoring Project. 2003. All sides of the story. Reporting on children: A journalist’s handbook.
² UNICEF. Date Unknown. “Ethical Guidelines: Principles for ethical reporting on children”

. UNICEF. III: 3a.
3 Ibid. III:1.