DILI 11 september 2023 (TATOLI)- The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Secretary of State of Social Communication (SECOMS) signed an agreement to support 18 Community Radio stations in Timor-Leste to broadcast information on child’s program.
UNICEF Country Representative, Bilal Durrani said it is the continued cooperation with SECOMS to share information for the public focused on child’s programs. This program will be implemented by the Community Radios in Timor-Leste.
“We have been working with SECOMS since 2004 and we are working in different programs for children. With the agreement, we are strengthening our cooperation to disseminate information on children’s programs such as Education, Health, Sanitation, hygiene, early childhood education, violation prevention against women, girls, and children, COVID-19 prevention, and vaccination We show our commitment to continue working with SECOMS to share information on children to enhance community awareness of children’s programs,’’ he said. UNICEF Country Representative, Durrani told journalists in, the UN House, Caicoli, this Monday.
At the same place, he said UNICEF appreciates the Secretary of State for Social Communication’s work in disseminating information and actions to the public of Government programs and ensuring that Social Communications Laws on ethical reporting are upheld by the media.
In the same place, Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Dias Ximenes said It is a partnership between SECOMS and UNICEF to promote children’s rights.
“UNICEF and SECOMS are working together to provide healthy internet to support children to access school subjects. Children are not required to use the internet for content of violence and any other content that harms their life,” said Dias.
UNICEF and SECOMS also work collaboratively in promoting child rights through the Voices of Children’s Radio Programme which is produced in collaboration with children 18 years old and below, to ensure children and young people’s participation in media.
In addition, UNICEF has also supported training sessions for the community radio managers and facilitators on how to produce a quality children’s radio program. UNICEF has also provided three sets of mobile radio stations to help SECOMS disseminate health, birth registration, and child rights messages in public places such as the markets and remote areas.
“UNICEF has been providing support equipment for 18 community radio stations such as computers, UPS, IC records, and other supplies to support community radio stations promoting important programs regarding children’s rights,”
However, to enhance all children’s programs in remote areas, several local community radio stations required more support such as equipment to support news overages in remote areas.
At the same time, he also requested the CNC and TIC to regulate internet connection and requested the telecommunication operator to block different types of traffic over the network and block every negative content to prevent children’s access to negative content.
Meanwhile, this program will continue to be implemented from 2023 to 2024.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
