The Juvenile Justice Department, within the Ministry of Home Affairs, reminds all media practitioners and members of the public of their legal and ethical obligation to protect the identity of juveniles involved in legal proceedings.
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ(๐ญ) ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ด expressly prohibits the publication of the name or any information that identifies, or is likely to identify, a juvenile who is a party to, or otherwise concerned in, legal proceedings. These statutory protections are intended to safeguard the privacy, dignity and welfare of children who come into contact with the justice system.
๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ further provides that every person who contravenes ๐ฌ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐(๐) ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of three hundred thousand Guyana dollars ($300,000.00) and to imprisonment for six (6) months.
The unauthorised publication or dissemination of a juvenileโs name, photograph, or any other identifying informationโwhether through print, broadcast, digital or social mediaโmay constitute a breach of the ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ด. The Department reminds all media practitioners and members of the public that compliance with the ๐๐ฐ๐ is essential to protecting the rights and interests of children involved in legal proceedings.
The Ministry therefore urges all media organisations, journalists, editors, content creators and members of the public to exercise the highest level of responsibility when reporting on matters involving children. Specifically, all stakeholders are encouraged to:
โข Refrain from publishing or sharing any information that could directly or indirectly identify a juvenile involved in legal proceedings.
โข Respect and protect the privacy, dignity and rights of every child, recognising the potentially lifelong consequences of unlawful disclosure.
โข Ensure continued compliance with the ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐, applicable child protection legislation and established ethical standards through regular training and review of reporting practices.
Protecting children is a shared national responsibility. The Ministry calls on all stakeholders to uphold the law and ensure that the rights, privacy and identities of juveniles are protected at all times.