28th October 2005, Hong Kong – Philippine broadcaster ABS – CBN Channel 2 has won the 2005 years ABU CASBAA UNICEF Child Rights Award for an episode of their current affairs series Correspondent entitled Juvenile Injustice.
The Child Rights Award, established in 2001, is given each year in recognition of the best television programming on a child rights issue produced in the Asia-Pacific region. It recognizes the efforts of broadcasters in pursuing both the production of top quality childrens programming and better news coverage of childrens issues.
“We salute broadcasters of the Asia Pacific who participated in this years award process and who continue to demonstrate their commitment to producing quality television for and about children,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA).
Juvenile Injustice, an in-depth hour-long documentary, sheds light on the harsh reality facing young juveniles left languishing in over crowded prisons and detained with adults while awaiting their sentences. By documenting the story of four young detainees and also exploring efforts underway in the Philippines to reform the juvenile justice system, the expos demonstrates the urgent need to do more to speed up this process.
Karen Davila, the producer of Juvenile Injustice and representing ABS-CBN Channel 2, was presented with the award during a gala presentation at the CASBAA 2005 Ball in Hong Kong. The entry competed with 50 programmes from 10 countries including Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore.
“The Child Rights Award is an important part of what must be an ongoing effort to strengthen the commitment and capacity of broadcasters in Asia and the Pacific to continue to produce quality programming on childrens issues that educate, inform and break down stereotypes,” said David Astley, Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union.
The winning entry was selected by a panel of jurors made up of distinguished television producers and industry representatives including; Ms. Kesang Chuki Dorjee, Head of Children, Youth and Women Programming at Bhutan Broadcasting; Norliza Mohd Ali from Radio Television Malaysia; Catherine Nebauer, Senior Vice President & General Manager from Nickelodeon Asia; Michael Peschardt from the BBC; Jeanne Hallacy, a producer and documentary filmmaker from Asia Works in Bangkok; and Amar Keshar Simha, an independent producer from Pakistan.
“This years entries cover a wide range of child rights issues from the rights of indigenous children to the plight of children living on the streets. They illustrate the power of television to communicate and educate an audience on the situation of children with compassion, intelligence and insight,” said Madeline Eisner, Regional Communication Advisor for UNICEF Regional East Asia and the Pacifics office.
The top ten finalists in this years competition were:
A Bridge Over Troubled Waters – Da Zhaward Maurman (Swara) produced by Samara Minallah (Pakistan)
This documentary explores the tradition of Swara, a custom followed in North West Frontier Province in Pakistan, when daughters are given in marriage to the aggrieved family as compensation in a murder or a serious crime committed by their brothers or fathers. It exposes how this tradition continues to deny girls their rights and forces them into early and often abusive marriages.
In-Depth 60 Minutes – Caught Between Tragedy & hope: Reformatory school children produced by Korean Broadcasting System (Republic of Korea)
This one hour documentary provides a rare glimpse into the life of young teenagers detained in reformatory schools in the Republic of Korea. The first time that permission has been given to shoot in the reform schools, two different crews track their day to day operation and the impact on these adolescents living in them.
I-Witness: The GMA Documentaries “Batak” (Child Drug Pusher) produced by GMA Network, INC, (Philippines)
This news style documentary explores the devastating impact of drugs on children. Each segment of the programme portrays a different perspective of children aged between 9 and 15 years whose lives are being controlled by drugs either as pushers, users or sellers.
Kabataan News Network (Youth News Network), produced by Probe Media Foundation, Inc. (Philippines)
This innovative child focused and produced television series provides an outlet for children to report on their own stories from their own perspective. This episode includes short stories including a story on colorful butterfly sanctuary in Cebu City, a festival in Mountain Province where young people express themselves through a band festival, the life of the families of over seas Filipino workers and a look at the state of kite flying.
Segah At Nusantara produced by Mahaka Visual (Indonesia)
This animated childrens series, focuses on the struggle between development and conservation in Indonesia. Through the adventures of a young boy Segah, who lives in secluded and pristine forest of Kalimantan Tengah, we come to understand the threat to natural preservation and cultural value as developers seek to destroy the forest.
Sunday Report: Big Head Babies produced by Television Broadcasts Limited (Hong Kong)
This episode of regular news current affairs series exposes the vulnerability of Chinas rural poor by following the story of baby Qianlin, who sick from contaminated milk powder, suffers from a swollen head and severe malnutrition and whose family seeks medical help in the nearby city.
Surat Sahabat: Daman Anak Dayak Ngaju (Letter from a Friend: Daman, child of Dayak Ngaju) produced by Trans TV (Indonesia)
This episode of a series called Surat Sahabat, a semi documentary programme for children aged between 7 and 18 years old, focuses on the life of children in a remote part of Indonesia. Told through the eyes and perspective of the children, the half- hour series provides both an entertaining and educational way for Indonesia children to learn about their countrys rich cultural diversity.
Talk with Your Baby – SOS from the babies who don’t smile produced by Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation (Japan)
This one-year-chronicle of Tsuruga, a 59-year-old midwife in Japan, provides an insight into the challenges facing new mothers and their infants. It demonstrates the trials and tribulations of adjusting to life with a newborn and learning how to interact and stimulate them. The love and guidance demonstrated by the regular interactions with Tsuranga, illustrate the importance of having support and advice to make the transition to motherhood.
The 300 Meters Adventure – produced by Shizuoka Broadcasting System (Japan)
A moving and intimate portrayal of a young ten year old girl, who although born blind, struggles to live a normal life with her parents and younger sister. With an acute sense of sound and extraordinary music talent, this one hour documentary chronicles her life over a year and provides an insight into the life of a blind child.
Note to the Editors:
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)
The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) is a non-profit, non-government, professional association of broadcasting organisations, formed in 1964 to facilitate the development of broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region and to organize co-operative activities amongst its members. It currently has over 150 members in 55 countries, with its broadcaster members reaching a potential audience of about 3 billion people. It organizes many activities and projects to promote excellence in broadcasting, and to improve the programmes, skills and technologies of its members, including the ABU Children’s TV Programme Item Exchange www.abu.org.my
Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA)
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia is an industry-based advocacy group dedicated to the promotion of multi-channel television via cable, satellite, broadband and wireless video networks across the Asia-Pacific. CASBAA represents some 110 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than 3 billion people.
www.casbaa.com
UNICEF
For nearly 60 years UNICEF has been the worlds leader for children, working on the ground in 157 countries and one territory to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The worlds largest provider of vaccines for poor countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, quality basic education for all boys and girls, access to clean water and sanitation, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of governments, businesses, foundations and individuals.
www.unicef.org
For further information, please contact:
Craig Hobbs: ABU (Kuala Lumpur), +603 2282 3592, craig.h@abu.org.my
Rebecca Kennedy: CASBAA, +852 2854 9913, pr@casbaa.com
Madeline Eisner: UNICEF Bangkok, +66 2 356 9406 or +66 1 701 4626, meisner@unicef.org
Shantha Bloemen: UNICEF Bangkok, +66 2 356 9407 or +66 1 906 0813, sbloemen@unicef.org
