Beijing, November 7, 2006 – Kansai Telecasting Corporation of Japan was named today the winner of the ABU CASBAA UNICEF Child Rights Award 2006 for its documentary entitled “Conquering the Darkness – The Fight Against Memories of Abuse.”
At a presentation ceremony held during the ABU General Assembly, Shinichi Sugimoto, the producer of the documentary, was praised for the film’s powerful, engaging and sensitive treatment of an issue often hidden from the public eye. The documentary follows Aya, a 33-year-old mother, who suffered abuse as a child and subsequently abused her own children. It is the tale of a parent’s personal struggle to end the cycle of child abuse in the family.
“We are often quick to point the finger at parents who abuse their children, but patterns of abuse so often begin in childhood, creating a chain that can continue over generations,” said Sugimoto. “I am greatly honoured that our documentary has been selected for the Child Right’s Award. I also would like to urge the media to help us realize our quest for a society free of abuse, prejudice and persecution.”
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 children’s programmes and better news coverage of children’s issues. This year, the Child Rights Award received a total of 40 entries from countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Japan, Mongolia, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Singapore.
David Astley, Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, said, “The Child Rights Award is a significant platform that allows broadcasters in the Asia-Pacific to demonstrate their ability to produce quality programming on children’s issues. The ABU wants to encourage broadcasters to continue to invest in such programmes in the future.”
The winning entry was selected by a panel of jurors made up of distinguished television producers and industry representatives including: Amar Keshar Simha, an independent producer from Pakistan; Wang Yan, a producer with China Central Television (CCTV); Ariunjargal Luvsantseren, Director of Children’s Programme for Mongolian Radio and Television; Francis Smith, Executive Producer of Infocus Asia; Ian Carroll, Chief Executive of Australia Network; and James Gibbons, Vice President of Programming, Discovery Networks Asia.
Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) said: “The continued participation of regional broadcasters in the Child Rights Award is welcome and clearly underlines their resolve towards producing educational and entertaining programmes for and about children.”
Madeline Eisner, UNICEF Regional Communication Advisor for East Asia and the Pacific Office said: “This year’s entries continue to illustrate the great influence television wields to command the attention of viewers regarding issues affecting children and comes at a timely moment with the just released UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence Against Children.”
The top ten finalists in 2006 are:
WINNER
Conquering the Darkness – The Fight Against Memories of Abuse (Japan)
Producer: Shinichi Sugimoto
Production Company: Kansai Telecasting Corporation
In Japan, every three days a child dies from abuse. It is estimated that up to 80% of parents who abuse their children were themselves abused in childhood. These parents have been psychologically damaged by the trauma they have experienced. The documentary takes a close look at Aya, a 33-year-old mother who was abused as a child and who subsequently abused her own children. This documentary is the result of a year-long reportage on the struggle by Aya and her three sons to overcome the cycle of child abuse.
FINALISTS
Dark Street Kids (Malaysia)
Producer: Nawar Hani Kamaruddin
Production Company: Radio Television Malaysia
This documentary tells the story of children who are born and live in dark alleys or brothels of Malaysia. It chronicles the hardship, as well as the stigma and discrimination, they face being the children of commercial sex workers.
Korean Children – I am All Alone (Korea)
Producer: Kim Kyung Eun
Production company: Production Purume
Minho is an 11-year-old boy neglected by his parents. His only friend is a TV set. He lives on frozen yoghurt. He is also addicted to computer games. A stark portrayal of how a child is deeply affected by the problems and negligence of his parents.
Tuesday Report: Pocket Money (Hong Kong)
Producer: Wong Yuk Kuen
Production company: Television Broadcasts Limited
Although Hong Kong is regarded as rich city, nearly 30% of children live below the poverty line. This programme documents the life of three children who live in cramped flats and have to sell scrap paper and scrap metal for their pocket money.
Young People on Wheels (Bhutan)
Producer: Dechen Roder
Production company: Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS)
The documentary follows a group of unemployed youths who are creating awareness of a campaign on HIV and AIDS in Bhutan.
The Orphans, Childless & Predators (Singapore)
Producer: Ong Hee Yah
Production company: MediaCorp News Pte Ltd
On a single day in December 2004, tens of thousands of children lost their parents when the Indian Ocean tsunami struck. The documentary looks at on how orphaned children coped with the devastating experience. It also features a child trafficker who agreed to tell his side of story and tries to justify his actions.
Get Real Child Sex Tourism – Sold for Sex (Singapore)
Producer: Sharon Hun
Production company: MediaCorp News Pte Ltd
The programme investigates the plight of child sex workers on the Indonesian Island of Batam. It explores how it is driven by demand from predominantly Singaporeans men, who head for the island every weekend.
Emergency – Junior Boxer (Philippines)
Producer: Sherilyn Bruan
Production company: GMA Network Inc.
Residents of General Santos City (Philippines) are very fond of boxing. Even children, some as young as three years old, undergo intensive training to become professional boxers. As part of their training, the frail bodies of these children are exposed to regular beatings and many sustain grave injuries that sometimes even result in death.
We Shall Overcome (Bangladesh)
Producer: Kazi Roksana Parvin Ruma
Production company: Boishakhi Media Limited
This documentary chronicles the life of an eight-year-old girl who is deaf and mute. It tells the story of how with tremendous courage she confronts many problems and continues to believe she can succeed in her dream to become a fine arts teacher.
School of the Highlands (Philippines)
Producer: ACPC Sikat
Production company: Asian Council for People¡¯s Culture (ACPC) and Schools of Indigenous Knowledge and Traditions (SIKAT)
The importance placed on education by indigenous communities in the Philippines is recounted in this documentary which looks at the challenges families face in schooling their children and promoting their rights.
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 160 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 60 years UNICEF has been the world¡¯s leader for children, working on the ground in 155 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world¡¯s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
www.unicef.org
For further information, please contact:
Craig Hobbs: ABU (Kuala Lumpur), +603 2282 3592, craig.h@abu.org.my
Ho Hwei-An CASBAA + 65 9616 7918 hweian@casbaa.com
Rebecca Kennedy: CASBAA, +852 2854 9913, pr@casbaa.com
Madeline Eisner: UNICEF Bangkok, +66 2 356 9406 meisner@unicef.org
Shantha Bloemen: UNICEF Bangkok, +66 2 356 9407, sbloemen@unicef.org