Asia–Pacific Child Rights Award for Television 2013

The ABU, CASBAA and UNICEF are calling on Asia–Pacific broadcasters and producers for entries for the 2013 Child Rights Award.

The award is given each year to the best television programming on children’s rights produced in the Asia–Pacific region. It recognizes the efforts of broadcasters in pursuing both the production of high quality children’s programming and better coverage of children’s issues.

Programmes both for children and about children are eligible and can cover any children’s rights issue. Entries can include documentaries that detail the plight of children, dramas that help break down stereotypes and discrimination, or animation that teaches and entertains. Entries must have been broadcast between June 2012 and May 2013 and must be received by Wednesday 5 June 2013. The award will be presented during the CASBAA Convention taking place 22-24 October 2013 in Hong Kong.

Eligible countries/territories: Afghanistan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Republic of Korea, DPR Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Niue, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand , Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.

TELEVISION AND CHILDREN
In more than 90 per cent of all households in Asia and the Pacific children watch two to five hours of television per day. Television plays a significant role in shaping children’s social and emotional development.

Broadcasters from the region attending the Asia–Pacific Television Forum in Seoul in 2001 discussed the role of this influence and pledged to pursue children’s programming that is both of good quality and sensitive to children’s issues. Because of this, the ABU and CASBAA teamed with UNICEF to launch a Child Rights Award that honours individual broadcasters’ commitment to high quality children’s programming.

CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is now 23 years olds. It was adopted during the United Nations’ World Summit for Children in which world leaders agreed to recognize and protect the rights of children. The Convention has achieved near-universal acceptance, having now been ratified by over 190 parties – more than belong to the United Nations or have acceded to the Geneva Conventions.

The CRC spells out the basic rights that apply, without discrimination, to all children. In so doing, it defends their right to:

• survival
• development to the fullest
• protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation
• participate fully in family, cultural and social lives.

Details on the CRC can be found at www.unicef.org/crc

Please consult the ethical guidelines for reporting on children at: http://www.unicef.org/media/media_tools_guidelines.html

For more information, please visit the website of the Asia-Pacific Child Rights Award: www.childrightsaward.org