Stop the practice of releasing explicit photographs of young girls

Sarajevo Open Centre calls on the BH media: STOP THE PRACTICE OF RELEASING EXPLICIT PHOTOGRAPHS OF YOUNG GIRLS IN THE PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA

In recent days, in BiH online portals as well as in the print media, news has been circulating about the Facebook group “The biggest sluts of elementary and middle school.” Although some reports have been well-intentioned, with the goal of pointing out the violence that these girls have been through, the means by which this topic is presented is sensationalist and harmful.

We call on all media outlets in BiH, especially print and online media, to hold to the highest media standards and act in the interests of children and young people. The release of these photographs in media reports can seriously harm girls, their families, and those close to them. Also, the trauma that this type of media reporting can cause can have long-lasting consequences.

Existing sensationalist articles should be removed or edited so that they do not harm the integrity of the implicated girls.